OBJECTIVES: This questionnaire study investigated the perceptions of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients across the UK in relation to exercise and joint health. The validity of the measure was also assessed. METHODS: Members of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) with self-reported RA completed the questionnaire online. Items related to five factors that emerged from previous qualitative research. Participants responded using a five-point Likert-style scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree). The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) assessed physical activity. The model was tested using confirmatory factor analysis (LISREL 8.8); statistical analyses were conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). RESULTS: A total of 247 responses were collected over 47 days (88% females; age: 18-77 years; disease duration: <1-51 years). Acceptable factorial validity was revealed (Satorra-Bentler χ(2) = 774.47, df = 454, p < 0.001, root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.05, 90% confidence interval RMSEA = 0.05-0.06, comparative fit index = 0.94, standardized root mean square residual = 0.09), with the following factor endorsements: 'Health professionals show exercise knowledge' (19%); 'Knowing what exercise should be done' (43%); 'Having to exercise because it is helpful' (72%); 'Worry about causing harm to joints' (44%); and 'Not wanting to exercise as joints hurt' (52%). Patient concerns about joint pain, joint harm and how to exercise were significantly associated with lower physical activity (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that patients perceive exercise as beneficial. However, concerns about how to exercise, joint pain, causing harm to joints and a perceived lack of exercise knowledge among health professionals remain. Addressing these concerns may have implications for increasing physical activity within the RA population.
OBJECTIVES: This questionnaire study investigated the perceptions of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients across the UK in relation to exercise and joint health. The validity of the measure was also assessed. METHODS: Members of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) with self-reported RA completed the questionnaire online. Items related to five factors that emerged from previous qualitative research. Participants responded using a five-point Likert-style scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree). The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) assessed physical activity. The model was tested using confirmatory factor analysis (LISREL 8.8); statistical analyses were conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). RESULTS: A total of 247 responses were collected over 47 days (88% females; age: 18-77 years; disease duration: <1-51 years). Acceptable factorial validity was revealed (Satorra-Bentler χ(2) = 774.47, df = 454, p < 0.001, root mean squared error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.05, 90% confidence interval RMSEA = 0.05-0.06, comparative fit index = 0.94, standardized root mean square residual = 0.09), with the following factor endorsements: 'Health professionals show exercise knowledge' (19%); 'Knowing what exercise should be done' (43%); 'Having to exercise because it is helpful' (72%); 'Worry about causing harm to joints' (44%); and 'Not wanting to exercise as joints hurt' (52%). Patient concerns about joint pain, joint harm and how to exercise were significantly associated with lower physical activity (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that patients perceive exercise as beneficial. However, concerns about how to exercise, joint pain, causing harm to joints and a perceived lack of exercise knowledge among health professionals remain. Addressing these concerns may have implications for increasing physical activity within the RA population.
Authors: Derek S Stenquist; Scott A Elman; Aileen M Davis; Laura M Bogart; Sarah A Brownlee; Edward S Sanchez; Adianez Santiago; Roya Ghazinouri; Jeffrey N Katz Journal: Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) Date: 2015-01 Impact factor: 4.794
Authors: Peter C Rouse; Jet J C S Veldhuijzen Van Zanten; George S Metsios; Nikos Ntoumanis; Chen-an Yu; Yiannis Koutedakis; Sally A M Fenton; Joanna Coast; Hema Mistry; George D Kitas; Joan L Duda Journal: BMC Musculoskelet Disord Date: 2014-12-19 Impact factor: 2.362
Authors: Chen-an Yu; Peter C Rouse; Jet J C S Veldhuijzen Van Zanten; Nikos Ntoumanis; George D Kitas; Joan L Duda; George S Metsios Journal: Arthritis Res Ther Date: 2015-03-13 Impact factor: 5.156
Authors: Jet J C S Veldhuijzen van Zanten; Peter C Rouse; Elizabeth D Hale; Nikos Ntoumanis; George S Metsios; Joan L Duda; George D Kitas Journal: Sports Med Date: 2015-10 Impact factor: 11.136