Online Disease Management Training for Older Adults With Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Using online methods in health education is an effective method that provides individual services to older adults with limited access to health services and allows for low-cost and continuous communication. The study was completed with 52 older adults diagnosed with osteoarthritis, including 26 intervention and 26 control participants. For data collection, a Patient Information Form, Visual Analogue Scale, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, Self-Efficacy Scale in Arthritis, World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Older Adults Module and a Telephone Counselling Follow-up Form were used. Individuals in the intervention group were provided with online training for the first 4weeks and telephone counselling for the following 4weeks. Scales were applied to both groups. The scales were applied to both groups at the first, second and last measurements. It was determined that there was a significant difference between the total pain and functional status scores of the individuals in the intervention and control groups at the second and last measurement (p<0.05), while the average scores of the intervention group were lower control group. The total self-efficacy score and quality of life total score of the intervention group were statistically significantly higher than the total score of the control group (p<0.05). As a result of the research, it was found that online education and telephone counselling given to elderly individuals with osteoarthritis were effective in reducing pain severity and improving functional status, self-efficacy and quality of life. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT04816474/2021-08-10/https://register. gov/).