Mei-Hua Kao1, Yun-Fang Tsai2, Ting-Kuo Chang3, Jong-Shyan Wang4, Chie-Pein Chen5, Yue-Cune Chang6. 1. Department of Nursing, Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 2. School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. 3. Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei city, Taiwan. 4. Healthy Aging Research Center, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. 5. Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. 6. Institute of Life Science and Department of Mathematics, Tamkang University, Tamsui, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Abstract
AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of a self-management intervention for middle-aged adults with knee osteoarthritis. BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis is a common cause of lower limb disability in middle-aged and older adults. Use of self-management interventions that apply the self-regulation theory have not been reported for patients with knee osteoarthritis. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental design was applied. METHODS: Knee osteoarthritis patients were recruited from two medical centres in northern Taiwan by convenience sampling between July 2013-May 2014. We developed a self-management intervention programme for knee osteoarthritis; participants began an individualized programme 4 weeks after recruitment. Effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Health Care Questionnaire and the Short-Form Health Survey. A generalized estimating equation compared assessment scores for 105 participants after the intervention (10 and 18 weeks) with scores at 4 weeks. RESULTS: Knee symptoms and physical function scores significantly improved and quality-of-life scores significantly increased while body mass index, unplanned medical consultations and doses of pain medication significantly decreased at 10 and 18 weeks compared with 4 weeks. After adjusting for the effect of time- and significant-related factors, knee symptoms and physical function, body mass index and quality of life significantly improved at 10 and 18 weeks compared with 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The self-management intervention based on self-regulation theory, improved participants' symptoms and functions of knee osteoarthritis, overall health and quality of life. Offering self-management interventions in clinical practice can be beneficial for patients with knee osteoarthritis.
AIM: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of a self-management intervention for middle-aged adults with knee osteoarthritis. BACKGROUND:Knee osteoarthritis is a common cause of lower limb disability in middle-aged and older adults. Use of self-management interventions that apply the self-regulation theory have not been reported for patients with knee osteoarthritis. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental design was applied. METHODS:Knee osteoarthritispatients were recruited from two medical centres in northern Taiwan by convenience sampling between July 2013-May 2014. We developed a self-management intervention programme for knee osteoarthritis; participants began an individualized programme 4 weeks after recruitment. Effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Health Care Questionnaire and the Short-Form Health Survey. A generalized estimating equation compared assessment scores for 105 participants after the intervention (10 and 18 weeks) with scores at 4 weeks. RESULTS: Knee symptoms and physical function scores significantly improved and quality-of-life scores significantly increased while body mass index, unplanned medical consultations and doses of pain medication significantly decreased at 10 and 18 weeks compared with 4 weeks. After adjusting for the effect of time- and significant-related factors, knee symptoms and physical function, body mass index and quality of life significantly improved at 10 and 18 weeks compared with 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The self-management intervention based on self-regulation theory, improved participants' symptoms and functions of knee osteoarthritis, overall health and quality of life. Offering self-management interventions in clinical practice can be beneficial for patients with knee osteoarthritis.