This study employed a cross-sectional and descriptive design. Data were collected using standardized tools administered at multiple points during the postoperative recovery period. Statistical analyses, including descriptive and inferential tests, were used to assess correlations between care dependency levels and recovery outcomes. The study population consisted of patients who underwent total knee replacement between 01.02.2023 and 01.02.2024 in the orthopedic clinics of Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital, and the sample consisted of 100 patients who met the research criteria and agreed to participate in the study. All patients underwent total knee arthroplasty using the same surgical approach and followed a standardized postoperative physical therapy protocol to ensure consistency in outcomes. All procedures were performed on an inpatient basis, with patients being discharged within 3–5 days based on their recovery progress. Factors such as age, comorbidities, pre-existing mobility limitations, and psychosocial support were considered as potential confounders in the analysis. Each patient was evaluated once during the postoperative period (between days 1 and 4), and the specific day of assessment was recorded and included in statistical analyses as a covariate to control for confounding effects related to recovery timing. A convenience sampling method was used, including all patients who met the eligibility criteria and agreed to participate. The participation rate was 100%.

The research universe consisted of patients who underwent total knee replacement surgery in the orthopedic clinics of Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital between 01.02.2023–01.02.2024, and the sample consisted of 100 patients who met the research criteria and agreed to participate in the study. The participants who agreed to participate in the study were given the necessary information and had their written consent signed by the Informed Consent Form. The a priori power analysis was performed using G*Power 3.1.9.7 based on previous studies reporting a large correlation between care dependency and recovery (effect size r = 0.75). With α = 0.05 and n = 100, the calculated power was 0.99, indicating sufficient sample size.

Individuals to be included in the sample were selected by considering the following criteria:

Exclusion Criteria from the Sample Patients;

All total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures were performed using a standardized surgical technique.

Before starting the study, Ethics Committee Approval (Ethics Committee Approval Number: E-71522473-050.01.04-300145-331) was obtained from Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine Clinical Research Ethics Committee and institutional permissions were obtained from the hospital where the study was conducted. All patients were adults and provided written informed consent themselves.

Personal Information Form, Care Dependency Scale and Postoperative Recovery Index were used to collect the data.

It consists of questions about age, gender, educational status, marital status, occupation, clinic, clinical diagnosis, any chronic disease status, medication used continuously, history of previous surgical intervention, preoperative hospital stay, duration of surgery, type of anesthesia, duration of anesthesia, postoperative day, time of first mobilization and dependency level.

The care dependency scale was developed by Dijkstra et al. (6) and is a 15-item scale created to assess the care dependency status of patients based on Virginia Henderson’s basic human needs. In the scale, which was validated and reliably validated in Turkish by Yönt et al. (7), the cronbach alpha coefficient was found to be 0.91 and the scale was reduced to 17 items. In this study, the Cronbach alpha coefficient was found to be 0.91. The scale, which determines the dependency levels of individuals and is graded with a 5-point Likert-type scoring (the scoring of the scale is 1, completely dependent; 5, completely independent), consists of a total of 17 items including activities of daily living. A minimum score of 17 points and a maximum score of 85 points can be obtained from the scale. A high scale score indicates that the patient is independent in meeting care needs, while a low scale score indicates that the patient is dependent on others in meeting care needs (7).

Developed in 2012 by Butler et al., the Turkish validity and reliability study of the Postoperative Recovery Index was conducted by Cengiz &Aygin (8). The index consists of 25 items and 5 sub-dimensions. The sub-dimensions of the index consist of psychological symptoms, physical activities, general symptoms, bowel symptoms and appetite symptoms. When determining the sub-dimension score, the scores of the relevant items are summed and their arithmetic averages are taken. For the total score, all items are summed and the arithmetic mean is taken. Higher scores on the index reflect more difficulty in postoperative recovery, while lower scores indicate that postoperative recovery is easier. In Cengiz and Aygin’s study, the Cronbach’s alpha value of the PoRI was determined as 0.96 (8).

The study was performed with 100 patients. The data were completed using IBM SPSS Statistics 23 program. While analyzing the study data, frequency distribution (number, percentage) was used for categorical variables and descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum) were used for numerical variables. The difference between two groups was analyzed by independent sample t test, and the difference between more than two groups was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (One Way ANOVA). As a result of the “one-way analysis of variance” (ANOVA), Levene’s test was performed for homogeneity of variance, and then the group or groups from which the difference originated were checked with the “multiple comparison test.” To control for the risk of type I error due to multiple testing, Bonferroni correction was applied to all pairwise and post-hoc comparisons, and Tamhane’s T2 test was used to examine the difference between groups in variables that did not provide homogeneity of variance.

The PORI total score was identified as the primary outcome variable. Pearson correlation and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with recovery, including potential confounders: age, sex, education, comorbidity, postoperative day, and time to mobilization.

Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the scales and multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the factors affecting the scale scores. Cronbach’s alpha value was used for scale reliability. Significance was set at p < 0.05 with 95% confidence intervals.

The mean age of the patients was 63.90 ± 7.87 years, 75.0% were female, 79.0% were married, 55.0% were primary school graduates and 49.0% were not working. While 50% of the patients had right TKA, 53% had chronic diseases. The rate of previous surgery was 43 and 18% were on the first postoperative day. The first mobilization time of 84% of the patients was on the first day and the dependency level of 46% was found to be dependent. The care dependency scale score was 58.43 ± 9.87 and the total postoperative recovery index score (PoRI) was 2.82 ± 0.68, while the psychological symptoms sub-dimension score was 2.27 ± 0.78, the physical activities sub-dimension score was 4.16 ± 0.70, the general symptoms sub-dimension score was 2.00 ± 0.88, the bowel symptoms sub-dimension score was 1.60 ± 1.01 and the appetite symptoms sub-dimension score was 3.03 ± 1.16.

While there was no statistically significant difference between gender and care dependency scale score (p > 0.05), there was a statistically significant difference between marital status, educational status and occupations in terms of care dependency scale score (p < 0.05; Table 1). Bonferroni corrections were applied in all multiple group comparisons to control for type I error inflation.

There was no statistically significant difference between chronic disease status and previous surgical operation status in terms of care dependency scale score (p > 0.05), whereas there was a statistically significant difference between clinical diagnoses, day of surgery, time of first mobilization and dependency levels in terms of care dependency scale score (p < 0.05; Table 2).

There is a statistically significant difference between marital statuses in terms of the appetite symptoms sub-dimension score (p < 0.05; Table 3). There is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the educational status in terms of postoperative recovery index scale and psychological symptoms, physical activities, and appetite symptoms sub-dimension scores (Table 3). There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the occupations in terms of postoperative recovery index scale and physical activities sub-dimension scores (Table 3). There was no statistically significant difference between genders in terms of postoperative recovery index scale and sub-dimension scores (p > 0.05; Table 3).

There is no statistically significant difference between clinical diagnoses in terms of postoperative recovery index scale and subscale scores (p > 0.05; Table 4). There is a statistically significant difference between chronic disease states in terms of general symptoms sub-dimension score (p < 0.05; Table 4). There is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the general symptoms and bowel symptoms sub-dimension scores between previous surgical operations (Table 4). There is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the days of surgery in terms of postoperative recovery index scale and physical activities, appetite symptoms sub-dimension scores (Table 4). There is a statistically significant difference between the first mobilization times in terms of physical activities subscale score (p < 0.05; Table 4). There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between the commitment levels in terms of postoperative recovery index scale and sub-dimension scores (Table 4).

There is a statistically significant negative relationship between the care dependency scale and postoperative recovery index and sub-dimension scores (p < 0.05; Table 5).

Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated a significant negative correlation between CDS and PORI total and subscale scores (r = −0.75, p < 0.001). Higher dependency levels were associated with more difficulty in recovery across psychological, physical, and general symptoms.

Marital status, clinical diagnosis and dependency levels have a statistically significant effect on the care dependency scale score. Accordingly, the care dependency scale score of the married patients was 3.193 units higher than the single patients, the care dependency scale score of the left TKA patients was 3.153 units higher than the right TKA patients, the care dependency scale score of the semi-dependent patients was 8.168 units higher than the dependent patients, and the care dependency scale score of the independent patients was 20.780 units higher than the dependent patients (Table 6).

Care dependency scale score and dependency level have a statistically significant effect on postoperative recovery index scale score. Accordingly, when the care dependency scale score increases by 1 unit, the postoperative recovery index scale score decreases by 0.032 units, while the postoperative recovery index scale score of semi-dependent patients is 0.270 units lower than dependent patients and the postoperative recovery index scale score of independent patients is 0.699 units lower than dependent patients (Table 7).

A multivariate linear regression model was conducted with the PORI total score as the dependent variable. Independent predictors included: CDS score, Dependency level (dependent / semi-dependent / independent), Age, sex, education, comorbidity, operated side, postoperative day, and time to mobilization. The model explained 62% of the variance (R² = 0.62, p < 0.001). Increasing CDS scores were associated with lower PORI total scores (β = −0.031, 95% CI: −0.045 to −0.018, p < 0.001). Older age and longer time to mobilization were significantly associated with poorer recovery outcomes. Gender was not significantly related to recovery (p = 0.31).

There is a statistically significant negative correlation between age and care dependency scale, and a statistically significant positive correlation between age and postoperative recovery index and psychological symptoms, physical activities, general symptoms, appetite symptoms subscale scores (p < 0.05; Table 8).

When the relevant literature on the care dependency status of the patients was examined; it was seen that the mean care dependency scale scores were between 48.80 and 73.79 in the studies (9–13). In this study, the mean care dependency scale score of 58.43 indicates that the patients participating in the study were partially dependent in accordance with the literature.

In this study, it was found that there was no statistically significant difference between genders in terms of care dependency scale score. When the relevant literature is examined, there are studies in which there is no significant difference between gender and care dependency scale in line with the study findings (14, 15). On the other hand, Caljouw et al. (16), found that women had more care dependency needs than men, Pekince and Aslan (17) found that there was a significant difference between gender and care dependency and female patients were more dependent than male patients, The reason for finding a significant difference according to gender in the study can be interpreted as nurses provide care services equally to both groups without gender discrimination.

When the relationship between marital status and care dependency was examined, it was found that unmarried patients were more dependent than married patients. In the study conducted by Pekince and Aslan (17), it was found that there was a significant relationship between care dependency and marital status and the dependency level of divorced patients was higher than married and single patients. On the other hand, in the study conducted by Düzgün et al. (10), no significant difference was found between care dependency and marital status. In this study, the reason why single patients were more dependent than married patients can be explained by the fact that the social and emotional etc. needs of married patients are met by their spouses.

When the literature examining the relationship between age and care dependency was reviewed; it was found that care dependency increased with age (3, 9–11). However, in the study conducted by Kılıç et al. (15), it was found that there was no significant difference between the care dependency scale and age. With this study, it can be said that the reason for the increase in care dependency as the age of the patients increases is that the diseases, needs and drug use increase as the age of the patients increases in accordance with the literature.

In many studies in the literature, it was found that care dependency increased as the education level of patients decreased (10, 15, 17–19). On the other hand, in the study conducted by Güler et al. (12), no statistically significant difference was found between the mean care dependency scale scores of the patients and their educational status. In this study, the decrease in the level of care dependency of the patients with increasing education level is consistent with the literature, as patients with higher education level are compatible with the treatments applied or they are conscious about their diseases.

In the study, it was concluded that retired patients were more dependent than working patients. In parallel with the result of the study, in the study conducted by Güler et al. (12), it was found that the level of care dependency of patients who were not working in any job was higher than those who were working, and in the study conducted by Türk and Üstün (9), the average care dependency scale score of patients who were civil servants was the highest and the care dependency scale score of patients who were farmers was the lowest, that is, patients who were farmers were more dependent than civil servants. In contrast to these studies, in the study conducted by Düzgün et al. (10), to determine the care dependency levels of patients hospitalized in the chest diseases service of a university hospital, no significance was found between occupational group variables and the total score of the care dependency scale. In this study, the reason why retired patients were found to be more dependent than working patients may be due to the fact that retired patients have comorbid diseases, their social support systems have decreased because their children have grown up, they have economic difficulties, retired patients spend most of their time resting at home and they need more care to fulfil their daily living activities because they are older in average age.

The care dependency scale score of patients with a clinical diagnosis of left TKA was higher than patients with a clinical diagnosis of right TKA, and patients with left TKA surgery were found to be more independent than patients with right TKA surgery. On the other hand, in the study conducted by Düzgün et al. (10), no significance was found between medical diagnosis and total score of the care dependency scale. In this study, the reason why patients with a clinical diagnosis of right TKA were found to be more dependent than patients with a clinical diagnosis of left TKA may be due to the fact that patients with right TKA surgery cannot move their right feet as comfortably as they want, since the right side of the body is mostly used while meeting the physical needs of the patients.

When the studies in the literature examining the relationship between having a chronic disease and patients’ care dependency are examined, there are studies that do not find a significant difference between care dependency and chronic disease (12, 13); on the other hand, there are studies in which the dependency levels of patients with chronic diseases are high (3, 9, 10).

In this study, no significant difference was found between the presence of chronic disease and care dependency. The reason for this result in the study may be that patients with chronic diseases develop a defense mechanism against the difficulties arising from their current diseases and that the presence of chronic disease does not affect the level of dependency because they have adapted to care dependency.

In the study, no statistically significant difference was found between the status of previous surgical operation and care dependency scale score. In the study conducted by Pamuksuz (20) on the subject, when the patients’ history of previous surgical intervention was examined; it was concluded that the care dependency scale scores of patients with a history of surgical intervention were lower than the scale scores of patients who had not undergone surgical intervention before. In this study, the fact that patients with a history of previous surgical intervention did not affect care dependency may be attributed to the fact that care dependency is a factor specific to each surgical intervention due to the different types of surgical interventions that patients undergo.

In the study, it was found that patients with a care dependency scale score on the 4th day of surgery were more independent than patients on the 1st day of surgery. In contrast to the study, in the study conducted by Baksi et al. (11), it was concluded that patients who underwent surgical intervention were more dependent as the total hospitalization period increased. In the study conducted by Aydın and Gürsoy (21), no significant relationship was found between the level of care dependency and total length of hospitalization. In this study, the fact that patients who were on the 4th day of surgery were more independent than patients who were on the 1st day of surgery can be explained by the fact that as time passes, patients can move more easily due to decreased pain and increased participation in daily living activities.

When the time of first mobilization of the patients was examined, patients with mobilization on the first day were more independent than patients with first mobilization time 0–12 h. In contrast to this study, Aygin et al. (22), concluded that delayed mobilization in the postoperative period increased the dependency level of the patient. In this study, the reason why patients who were mobilized later were more independent may be explained by the fact that the severity of pain experienced by the patients decreased over time and caused the patient to feel better.

The mean postoperative recovery index scale score of the patients was 2.82 ± 0.68. As a result of the study, it was determined that the postoperative recovery level of the patients was very difficult.

As the age of the patients increased, it was determined that the patients had more difficulty in postoperative recovery in the postoperative recovery index and psychological symptoms, physical activities, general symptoms, appetite symptoms sub-dimensions. In parallel with the study, Cengiz and Aygin (8) found that patients experienced more difficulties in general symptoms as the average age of the patients increased. Similarly, in the study conducted by Dığın and Kızılcık Özkan (23) to determine the recovery status of older adults patients after surgery, it was concluded that the advancement of age made recovery difficult. According to the results of the study, it is thought that the increase in physiological and psychological problems with age and the decrease in social support make it difficult to recover in the postoperative period.

No significant difference was found between gender and postoperative recovery index scale and subscale scores. İn contrast to these study, Cengiz and Aygin (8) found that female patients had more difficulty in the recovery process than male patients. In the study conducted by Dığın and Kızılcık Özkan (23) to determine the recovery status of patients with a high average age after surgery, it was concluded that female patients had more difficulty in the recovery process than male patients. In this context, according to the results of the study, it is thought that the mobilization of orthopedic patients undergoing major surgical interventions is painful, affecting the recovery in both male and female patients, and prolonging the process.

It was concluded that single patients had more difficulty in recovery in appetite symptoms than married patients. Similarly, in a study conducted by Dığın and Kızılcık Özkan (23) to determine the recovery status of patients with a high average age after surgery, it was concluded that unmarried patients had more difficulty in postoperative recovery than married patients. Again, Ali et al. (24), conducted a study to determine the quality of life of patients with maxillectomy and found that married patients had a better quality of life. In line with this information; it is seen that the result that emotional and social needs can be met more in the presence of a spouse and postoperative recovery is easier for married patients is in parallel with the literature.

In the study, patients with primary school graduates or illiterate patients had more difficulty in recovery according to the total score obtained from the postoperative recovery index than patients with high school graduates. It can be thought that the data obtained from this study are similar to the literature and that this situation contributes to the easier recovery of people in the postoperative period, as the level of education increases, people question more research and are open to learning and gain awareness.

In the study, it was determined that patients who were not working or retired had more difficulty in recovery than working patients according to the total score obtained from the postoperative recovery index. According to the results of the study, it may be due to the fact that patients who do not work in a job listen to themselves more because they do not have any occupation and perceive all kinds of symptoms of the disease more.

Patients with chronic disease had moderate difficulty in recovery in general symptoms compared to patients without chronic disease. In the study conducted by Evkaya (25). although there was no significant correlation in terms of postoperative recovery index general symptoms sub-dimension score in the case of patients having chronic diseases, in the same study, it was concluded that there was a decrease in the recovery status of patients as the number of chronic diseases in patients increased numerically in terms of postoperative recovery index physical activities sub-dimension. It was observed that our research findings were similar to the literature. In this context, it can be said that the presence of chronic diseases in patients negatively affects the quality of recovery by causing prolonged wound healing, increased postoperative complications and negative effects on the independent performance of daily living activities (8, 26).

In the study, it was found that patients who had undergone surgery before had moderate difficulty in recovery in general symptoms and bowel symptoms compared to patients who had not undergone surgery before. In the study conducted by Cengiz and Aygin (8) it was concluded that patients who had undergone previous surgical intervention had more difficulty in postoperative recovery, and it was concluded that the mean scores in the general symptoms sub-dimension of patients who had undergone previous surgical intervention were statistically significant and the scores were higher than patients who had not undergone previous surgical operation. In line with the literature, it is thought that the negativities related to the hospital and previous surgeries and the number of previous surgeries may negatively affect the recovery status of the patients.

Patients evaluated on postoperative days 1–3 showed lower recovery scores in physical activity, appetite symptoms, and total PORI compared with those assessed on postoperative day 4 or later. These findings indicate an association between earlier postoperative assessment and greater recovery difficulty, rather than a causal effect. In contrast to this study, Evkaya (25) concluded that most of the patients with positive recovery scores had hospitalization periods of less than 1 h and in the range of 1–24 h. In this study, the fact that the recovery status of the patients was positively affected as the hospitalization period was prolonged may be explained by the fact that the pain of the patients who underwent major orthopedic surgery decreased over time and returned to their daily life activities and this situation contributed positively to patient recovery.

İt was determined that patients with a first mobilization time of 0–12 h had extreme difficulty in recovery in the physical activities sub-dimension compared to patients with a first mobilization time of 1 day. In this study, the fact that the patients had difficulty in recovery as a result of early mobilization may have been due to the type of surgical intervention due to major orthopedic surgery.

Although this study provides valuable insights into the relationship between care dependency and postoperative recovery after total knee arthroplasty, certain limitations should be acknowledged. The study did not include data on potential confounding factors such as preoperative physical condition, disease severity, functional status, quality of life, and psychosocial characteristics. These factors may influence both nursing dependency and postoperative recovery, and their absence should be considered when interpreting the results. Additionally, it should be noted that this study is cross-sectional in design, and therefore only associations between care dependency and postoperative recovery can be identified; causal relationships cannot be established. Future prospective cohort or interventional studies are recommended to clarify these causal pathways and better understand the mechanisms underlying nursing dependency after total knee arthroplasty.