The effects of self-management intervention among middle-age adults with knee osteoarthritis.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of a self-management intervention for middle-aged adults with knee osteoarthritis. 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. A quasi-experimental design was applied. 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 4weeks 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 equationcompared assessment scores for 105 participants after the intervention (10 and 18weeks) with scores at 4weeks. 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 18weeks compared with 4weeks. 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 18weeks compared with 4weeks. 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.