Self-efficacy In People Research Articles

Perceived social support impacts on exercise adherence in patients with chronic low back pain.

Initiating and maintaining physical activity is particularly difficult for at-risk groups such as those with chronic low back pain (LBP). This study aimed to assess whether there is a relationship between perceived social support (e.g., emotional and physical support) in individuals recently discharged from treatment for chronic LBP and the number of exercise sessions and total amount of exercise they perform over a 6-month period. This study also aimed to investigate a possible mediation effect of exercise self-efficacy on the relationship between perceived social support and exercise adherence (number of exercise sessions and total amount of exercise). This prognostic study employed a secondary analysis of data collected for The Buddy Study; Data was collected through online weekly diaries over a 6-month period. Poisson regression analyses were used to quantify the relationship between social support at baseline and total number of exercise sessions, and total amount of exercise performed (frequency and duration) in the 6-month follow-up period. Where a relationship was observed, the Stata SEM command was used for the mediation analysis. A positive relationship was found between participants' perceived levels of social support at baseline and the total number of exercise sessions they performed (IRR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.18 to 2.06) and the total amount of exercise they performed (IRR = 1.57, 95%CI: 1.05 to 2.35) during the 6-month follow-up period. No mediating relationship was found between exercise self-efficacy at 3-months and the total number of exercise sessions performed (β 3.96, 95% CI: -4.91 to 12.84), or the total amount of exercise performed (β 243.96, 95% CI: -258.08 to 746.01). Social support is potentially an important aspect of exercise adherence, following discharge from treatment, for those with chronic LBP. People's self-efficacy to exercise does not appear to mediate this relationship. Harnessing social support following physiotherapy treatment may increase exercise adherence and may therefore improve long term outcomes for those with chronic LBP.

Self-stigma in alcohol dependence scale: development and validity of the short form

BackgroundSelf-stigma is associated with low self-esteem, high shame and reduced drinking-refusal self-efficacy in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The Self-Stigma in Alcohol-Dependence Scale-Short Form (SSAD-SF) was designed to enable a brief, but valid assessment of AUD self-stigma.MethodsWe reduced the 64-item SSAD, originally derived from 16 stereotypes towards people with AUD, by removing the most offensive items based on perspectives of people with lived experience. The newly created scale was then assessed and validated in a cross-sectional study involving 156 people reporting alcohol issues in various treatment settings.ResultsThe 20-item SSAD-SF includes five stereotypes, with good internal consistency for each subscale and the overall scale. It reflects the four-stage progressive model of self-stigmatization with decreasing scores over the stages awareness of stereotypes, agreement with stereotypes, self-application of stereotypes, and harmful consequences for self-esteem, and highest correlations between adjacent stages. The subscales apply and harm were associated with internalized stigma, shame, reduced self-esteem, and lower drinking-refusal self-efficacy, as supported by multivariate regression models.DiscussionThe SSAD-SF is a valid instrument for measuring the process of self-stigmatization in people with AUD. Self-stigma is a consistent predictor of reduced self-esteem, higher shame and lower drinking-refusal self-efficacy in people with AUD. We discuss merits of the progressive model for understanding and addressing self-stigma in AUD.

Asian Bay Areas' Experiences in Promoting Youth's Participation in Social Innovation Asian Bay Areas' Experiences in Promoting Youth's Participation in Social Innovation

This study analyzes the experiences and approaches of Asian bay areas, particularly China's Greater Bay Area and Japan's Tokyo Bay Area, in promoting youth participation in social innovation. Through a literature review and four case studies, the paper explores how social innovation helps young people address modernity challenges, including unemployment and social isolation. The cases include knowledge enhancement programs, breaking social isolation, providing work promotion opportunities, and empowering and inspiring youth to engage in social innovation. These methods not only contribute to solving social issues but also enhance young people's self-efficacy and improve their employability. The findings suggest that social innovation programs targeting youth must be tailored to meet their diverse needs, ranging from personal development and community belonging to professional advancement, all of which play a vital role.

Clinical Validation of the Nursing Diagnosis 'Inadequate Health Self-Efficacy' in People With Hypertension.

To test the clinical validity of clinical indicators and causal relationships of aetiological factors of the new nursing diagnosis of inadequate health self-efficacy in people with hypertension. The diagnosis of inadequate health self-efficacy has both theoretical and content validity. However, a clinical validation study is needed to establish an appropriate framework for distinguishing individuals who manifest this unique human response. The study adopts a cross-sectional clinical validation approach, adhering strictly to the STROBE guidelines throughout its design and implementation. Naturalistic sampling was used to identify 302 adults diagnosed with hypertension. Their data were subjected to latent class analysis, which facilitated the identification of a comprehensive set of clinical indicators that demonstrated better diagnostic accuracy and established posterior probabilities to guide the inference of inadequate health self-efficacy. In addition, logistic regression analysis was used to assess the magnitude of the impact of aetiological factors. The prevalence of inadequate health self-efficacy was 76.61%. Among the 13 indicators examined, seven demonstrated notable sensitivity: 'risk-prone health behaviour', 'failure to take action that prevents health problems', 'inadequate self-control', 'avoidance behaviours', 'negative health self-perception', 'inadequate health-related quality of life' and 'difficulty feeling good about adopting a healthy lifestyle'. Additionally, two indicators showed high specificity: 'difficulty feeling good about adopting a healthy lifestyle' and 'inadequate adherence to treatment regimen'. Notably, 15 aetiological factors were identified as significantly associated with an increased risk of inadequate health self-efficacy. A clinical framework consisting of eight clinical indicators and 15 aetiological factors was developed to characterise inadequate health self-efficacy in individuals with hypertension. Clinical validation provides insight into the precision of clinical indicators and the magnitude of the effect of putative causal elements, thereby facilitating identification and tailored intervention for individuals with hypertension and inadequate health self-efficacy.

1639P Self efficacy in people with prostate cancer in the UK: A large, digital survey

1639P Self efficacy in people with prostate cancer in the UK: A large, digital survey

A study on the effectiveness of narrative image types, message framing, and psychological distance in enhancing young people's self-efficacy in marine garbage recycling

Intentional or unintentional littering, especially among young people, poses a threat to the marine environment. It is, therefore, necessary to enhance awareness of marine environmental protection among youth groups. This study explored the interaction between visual image types (photograph vs. cartoon), message framing (positive vs. negative), and psychological distance (human vs. turtle). A three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression analysis were used to verify the hypotheses. The key findings of the research were as follows: (1) Among the eight information construction methods, cartoons combined with turtles and presented with positive outcomes were the best way to communicate, i.e., cartoons showing animals in a friendly and positive way were the most effective form of marine garbage recycling for young people, and (2) Young people's preference for information will promote their self-efficacy in marine garbage recycling. The implications of these findings for developing marine protection information communication education for youth groups are also proposed.

Numeric social-media posts engage people with climate science.

Innumeracy (lack of math skills) among nonscientists often leads climate scientists and others to avoid communicating numbers due to concerns that the public will not understand them and may disengage. However, people often report preferring to receive numbers; providing them also can improve decisions. Here, we demonstrated that the presence vs. absence of at least one Arabic integer in climate-related social-media posts increased sharing up to 31.7% but, counter to hypothesis, decreased liking of messages 5.2% in two preregistered observational studies (climate scientists on Twitter, N > 8 million Tweets; climate subreddit, N > 17,000 posts and comments). We speculated that the decreased liking was due, not to reduced engagement, but to more negative feelings towards climate-related content described with numeric precision. A preregistered within-participant experiment (N = 212) then varied whether climate consequences were described using Arabic integers (e.g. "90%") or another format (e.g. verbal terms, "almost all"). The presence of Arabic integers about consequences led to more sharing, wanting to find out more, and greater trust and perceptions of an expert messenger; perceived trust and expertise appeared to mediate effects on sharing and wanting to find out more. Arabic integers about consequences again led to more negative feelings about the Tweets as if numbers clarified the dismaying magnitude of climate threats. Our results indicate that harnessing the power of numbers could increase public trust and concern regarding this defining issue of our time. Communicators, however, should also consider counteracting associated negative feelings-that could halt action-by providing feasible solutions to increase people's self-efficacy.

Adapting to the Evolving Digital Landscape: Development and Validation of the VirtHuLab Self Efficacy Scale.

Measuring people's self-efficacy in navigating the digital world has become essential in an age where the Internet permeates every aspect of life. This paper describes the creation and validation of the VISES (Virthulab Internet Self-Efficacy Scale), an instrument designed for the modern Internet environment. The way we work, communicate, and access information is changing as a result of the digital revolution, and VISES encapsulates the abilities and self-assurance needed to succeed in this Web 4.0 era. The study investigated the connections between VISES scores, Internet usage habits, net frustration, self-disparagement, and Internet addiction using a rigorous methodology. The study included a sample of 773 participants who could speak Italian (66.5% women). Participants were 31.38 years old on average (standard deviation = 11.19). The 3-factor structure of VISES, which demonstrated strong reliability for each subscale, was discovered by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). According to the study, there is a substantial positive link between the VISES Internet self-efficacy ratings and both the frequency and duration of online use. Additionally, VISES scores exhibited positive associations with expected outcomes of Internet use, including social outcomes, personal entertainment, and personal information. The negative link between VISES scores and net frustration and self-disparagement emphasized the importance of self-efficacy in reducing negative emotional and cognitive states while using the Internet. Surprisingly, the association between VISES scores and Internet addiction was found for just one of the dimensions of VISES.

Leveraging digital technology to improve self-efficacy in response to public health crises

During public health crises, people's self-efficacy determines their mental and physical health. However, little is known about the influence of digital technology on self-efficacy in response to public health crises. To better understand these effects, we conducted a mixed methods study based on Chinese digital technology users; we interviewed 17 and surveyed 607 users. The results indicated that the digital affordances of information sharing, knowledge sharing, and socializing can increase people's perceived social support, which enhances their self-efficacy in terms of their health and general life. Additionally, risk perception moderates the influence of social support on self-efficacy.

How can clinicians enhance self-efficacy beliefs in osteoarthritis? An overview of systematic reviews with meta-analysis.

This overview of reviews aimed to synthesize the effectiveness of non-pharmacological approaches to enhance self-efficacy in people with osteoarthritis. The CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to December 2023. We considered systematic reviews with meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials evaluating any non-pharmacological intervention. We used AMSTAR 2 to assess the methodological quality of reviews. The overlap between reviews was calculated. We included eight systematic reviews with meta-analysis evaluating 30 different clinical trials. Overall, mind-body exercises, psychological interventions, and self-management strategies may improve arthritis self-efficacy. Specifically, the meta-analyses showed tai chi exercises, coping skills training, and the arthritis self-management program are more effective than controls to enhance arthritis self-efficacy in people with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis. In addition, inconsistent results were detected across meta-analyses regarding the effectiveness of multidisciplinary interventions. Finally, the degree of overlap between all reviews was moderate (CCA = 6%) and many included reviews reported most of the items of AMSTAR 2. Tai chi exercises, coping skills training, and the arthritis self-management program may be beneficial for enhancing arthritis self-efficacy. Open Science Framework Registration: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/VX2T6 .

Sexual health behaviours and partner notification practices related to sexually transmitted infections in young adults in Ireland

BackgroundSexually transmitted infections (STIs) impose burdens on individuals and communities, while their prevalence in young people has risen continually in recent years. Partner notification is an effective public health strategy which can limit STI transmission.AimsThis study aimed to explore young adults’ sexual health behaviours, attitudes toward STI testing, and feelings toward visiting a sexual health clinic. It also aimed to investigate preferences for partner notification and the role of self-efficacy in people’s intentions to notify a partner for STIs including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).MethodsA quantitative, cross-sectional design was applied. Participants were 400 adults aged 18–34 years (M = 23 years; SD = 4.27), recruited from the Republic of Ireland.ResultsOver half of the participants reported never being tested for STIs. These young people placed less importance on undergoing regular STI testing and testing after unprotected sex than their counterparts who had been tested for STIs. Self-efficacy was significantly associated with intentions to notify partner(s) for STIs including HIV.ConclusionsAs STIs are becoming increasingly prevalent in young adults, it is important to gain a deeper understanding of the interventions used to break the transmission chain and how different beliefs and attitudes may affect them. Self-efficacy was a key component in PN intentions, suggesting that the belief in someone’s ability or skillset to perform a sexual health behaviour is positively related to their intention to perform the behaviour.

A Digital Intervention to Promote Self-Management Self-Efficacy Among Community-Dwelling Individuals With Stroke: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Digital interventions provided through smartphones or the internet that are guided by a coach have been proposed as promising solutions to support the self-management of chronic conditions. However, digital intervention for poststroke self-management is limited; we developed the interactive Self-Management Augmented by Rehabilitation Technologies (iSMART) intervention to address this gap. This study aimed to examine the feasibility and initial effects of the iSMART intervention to improve self-management self-efficacy in people with stroke. A parallel, 2-arm, nonblinded, randomized controlled trial of 12-week duration was conducted. A total of 24 participants with mild-to-moderate chronic stroke were randomized to receive either the iSMART intervention or a manual of stroke rehabilitation (attention control). iSMART was a coach-guided, technology-supported self-management intervention designed to support people managing chronic conditions and maintaining active participation in daily life after stroke. Feasibility measures included retention and engagement rates in the iSMART group. For both the iSMART intervention and active control groups, we used the Feasibility of Intervention Measure, Acceptability of Intervention Measure, and Intervention Appropriateness Measure to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness, respectively. Health measures included the Participation Strategies Self-Efficacy Scale and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System's Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Conditions. The retention rate was 82% (9/11), and the engagement (SMS text message response) rate was 78% for the iSMART group. Mean scores of the Feasibility of Intervention Measure, Acceptability of Intervention Measure, and Intervention Appropriateness Measure were 4.11 (SD 0.61), 4.44 (SD 0.73), and 4.36 (SD 0.70), respectively, which exceeded our benchmark (4 out of 5), suggesting high feasibility, acceptability, and appropriateness of iSMART. The iSMART group showed moderate-to-large effects in improving self-efficacy in managing emotions (r=0.494), symptoms (r=0.514), daily activities (r=0.593), and treatments and medications (r=0.870), but the control group showed negligible-to-small effects in decreasing self-efficacy in managing emotions (r=0.252), symptoms (r=0.262), daily activities (r=0.136), and treatments and medications (r=0.049). In addition, the iSMART group showed moderate-to-large effects of increasing the use of participation strategies for management in the home (r=0.554), work (r=0.633), community (r=0.673), and communication activities (r=0.476). In contrast, the control group showed small-to-large effects of decreasing the use of participation strategies for management in the home (r=0.567), work (r=0.342, community (r=0.215), and communication activities (r=0.379). Our findings support the idea that iSMART was feasible to improve poststroke self-management self-efficacy. Our results also support using a low-cost solution, such as SMS text messaging, to supplement traditional therapeutic patient education interventions. Further evaluation with a larger sample of participants is still needed. ClinicalTrials.gov 202004137; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04743037?id=202004137&rank=1.

Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Self-Efficacy Instrument for Chronic Disease Management in the Chilean Population

To adapt and validate the Latin-Spanish version of the Self-Efficacy to Manage Chronic Disease (SEMCD-S) for the Chilean population. Twenty-one individual cognitive interviews were conducted with adults with diagnosed chronic diseases, comparing the understanding of the SEMCD-S with the Chilean adaptation (SEMCD-S-Ch) using paraphrasing and follow-up probes. Then, 144 adults with diagnosed chronic diseases under control were recruited in three family health centers in La Florida and La Pintana. These participants were administered the SEMCDS-Ch at recruitment, at six weeks, and four months later. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted, the internal consistency of the instrument was calculated, and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to validate the EFA findings. The adaptation process incorporated changes in the writing style and some terms used in the SEMCD-S, improving the understanding of the instrument. In the psychometric testing of the SEMCDS-Ch, the AFE identified a single-factor solution, the internal consistency in each of the administrations was very good (α between 0.849 to 0.878), and the CFA confirmed the unidimensional structure of the instrument relatively well. The SEMCD-S-Ch is understandable, reliable, and useful for a brief and competent assessment of self-efficacy in people with chronic diseases under control in primary health care.

Positive and cognitive behavioral intervention to control HbA1c in type 2 diabetes: a pilot study

Introduction: the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Mexican population is 12 %. Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) is the most important indicator of control of this disease, so it is required to develop psychological interventions to help people to control HbA1c. Objective: develop and evaluate a positive and cognitive behavioral intervention to control HbA1c in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Method: eleven patients with T2DM were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG; n = 6) or control group (CG; n = 5). The intervention consisted of 12 weekly sessions. Self-efficacy, hope, resilience, and optimism were measured with the Diabetes Treatment Self-Efficacy Instrument, Adult Hope Scale, Mexican Resilience Scale, and Life Orientation Test, respectively, along with an assessment of HbA1c, after intervention, and at a three-month follow-up. Results: clinically significant improvements on HbA1c after intervention (g = 0.426) and follow-up (g = 0.749), improvements in self-efficacy after intervention (g = 1.168) and follow-up (g = 0.873) were identified in EG. Discussion: clinically favorable, but not statistically significant, effects of the intervention were discussed; in addition, the role of study variables in HbA1c control is discussed. Conclusions: positive and cognitive behavioral intervention is a promising alternative to improve HbA1c and self-efficacy in people with T2DM. Thus, it is advisable to conduct further evaluation with randomized controlled trials.

Diabetes self-care behaviours among people diagnosed with serious mental illness: A cross-sectional correlational study.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: People diagnosed with serious mental illness have a high risk of diabetes and are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes at ages below 60 years. Effective diabetes self-care behaviours among people diagnosed with serious mental illness can improve glycaemic control and reduce vascular complications. Few studies have investigated diabetes self-care behaviours and their associations with health literacy and self-efficacy in people diagnosed with serious mental illness. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Diabetes self-care behaviours in people diagnosed with serious mental illness were suboptimal; the least frequently performed self-care activities were self-monitoring of blood glucose. Factors associated with diabetes self-care behaviours are gender, age, communicative and critical health literacy and self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is the strongest predictor of self-care behaviours among people diagnosed with comorbid serious mental illness and type 2 diabetes. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF PRACTICE?: Mental health nurses should assess diabetes-specific health literacy of people diagnosed with serious mental illness to ensure that they possess the knowledge and skills related to diabetes self-care. When treating young people and those with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, nurses should incorporate strategies to minimise their perceptions of diabetes-related distress and increase their confidence in managing comorbid diabetes. ABSTRACT: Introduction People diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI) experience greater challenges in managing their type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) than do those diagnosed with T2DM alone. Aim This study investigated diabetes self-care activities and the factors associated with these activities in people diagnosed with SMI in a hospital setting. Methods A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted among 126 people diagnosed with comorbid SMI and T2DM in Taipei, Taiwan, between October 2020 and April 2021. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires and a chart review. Three-step hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with diabetes self-care behaviours. Results Diabetes self-care behaviours in people diagnosed with SMI were suboptimal overall. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that age (β = 0.18, p = .037) and self-efficacy (β = 0.27, p = .004) significantly associated with diabetes self-care behaviours. Discussion Self-efficacy is the strongest predictor of self-care behaviours among people diagnosed with comorbid SMI and T2DM. Implications for Practice Mental health professionals should focus on enhancing confidence in managing comorbid diabetes in people diagnosed with comorbid SMI, especially young people and those with newly diagnosed T2DM.

The online entrepreneurship program effect on young people's self-efficacy and intention: an experiment in Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, China and Romania

Purpose Entrepreneurship can help tackle economic problems, such as unemployment. It is often promoted through education programs. There is a limited comprehensive and rigorous understanding of how entrepreneurship education programs and their ubiquitous distance delivery affect young people's entrepreneurial self-efficacy and intention, particularly in non-formal settings. The purpose of this study is to address this gap. Design/methodology/approach Underpinned by the Social Cognitive Theory, this paper investigates the effects of one entrepreneurship education program in a study with 145 young people from five countries aged 18 to 25 years, 62 Intervention and 83 Control participants. The program's impact on the participants' entrepreneurial intention and self-efficacy (across six sub-dimensions) was assessed in a one-off two-week quasi-experiment. Ex-ante and ex-post self-reported data were collected about the participants. Findings One-way analyses of covariance were performed to assess separately for changes in the Intervention participants' answers, relative to the Control group. The results of this study suggest the program significantly affected all measures. Originality/value These findings contribute to the discussions on the education programs’ effectiveness in promoting entrepreneurship. As a result, they may contribute to entrepreneurship education overcoming geographical and socio-economic hurdles (cost, time and entry barriers) to advance the development of industry, economy and community worldwide.

"SEDIA" PROGRAMME BASED ON STRUCTURED SUPPORTIVE EDUCATION TO INCREASE SELF-EFFICACY OF DIABETICS

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease and good self-efficacy encourages patients to carry out diabetes management in a comprehensive and consistent manner towards quality of life. The purpose of this community service activity is to provide “SeDia” (Healthy Diabetes) education and training based on structured supportive education in an effort to increase self-efficacy in people with diabetes.
 Method: In this study using a Community Based Research (CBR) approach, education and training on DM material, diabetic foot exercises and the introduction of mobile phone-based applications to social health partner, DM patients and families in Pantenan, Panceng, Gresik are carried out. Final evaluation of the PKM program by comparing pre-test and post-test scores on knowledge of the DKQ-24 Questionnaire (Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire). The analysis used was univariate and bivariate analysis using SPSS.
 Results: There were 41 participants with an average age of 49 years and consisting of 14 social worker (34.1%), 16 DM patients (39%) and 11 families (26.9%) who participated in this activity. The measurement results on the level of knowledge p = 0.000 (p <0.05) so that there is a significant difference between before and after being given education and training in terms of increasing knowledge.
 Conclusion: Education and training on the five pillars of DM, simulation/practice of diabetic foot exercises and the introduction of mobile phone-based applications can increase the knowledge of social health, DM patients and their families to be able to carry out good self-efficacy.

542-P: Socio-clinical Correlations with Threat Perception and Self-Efficacy in People with T2D

Interventions are needed to address health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities with type 2 diabetes (T2D). In a novel application, the Extended Parallel Processing Model (EPPM) was used to categorize 168 adults with T2D from urban safety-net clinics and the local community by self-efficacy and perceived threat from T2D and cardiovascular disease based on validated measures. The EPPM groups were high threat (HT)/high efficacy (HE), low threat (LT)/low efficacy (LE), HT/LE, and LT/HE. Socio-clinical characteristics were compared across EPPM groups, threat level, and self-efficacy level. HT/LE people had the lowest medication adherence and T2D management score, the highest A1C (p=0.10), and most microvascular complications relative to other EPPM groups. Gender, Race/Ethnicity, education, and health insurance did not vary by EPPM group. HT people were younger, had lower medication adherence, more diabetic complications, more blood pressure medications, and more insulin use (p=0.08) than LT people. LE people had lower medication adherence, lower T2D management score, and higher A1C (p=0.07) than HE people. The EPPM is associated with clinical outcomes and self-management behaviors. This model may be useful to target people with T2D for behavioral intervention. Moving people from HT/LE to LT/HE may improve T2D management and outcomes. Disclosure J.Hu: None. S.K.Chen: None. S.Kim: None. P.J.Kelly: None. A.Hoadley: None. Y.Zisman-ilani: None. D.A.Swavely: None. S.B.Bass: None. D.J.Rubin: Research Support; AstraZeneca.

Effects of a Massive Open Online Course on osteoarthritis knowledge and pain self-efficacy in people with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis: protocol for the MOOC-OA randomised controlled trial

BackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent, chronic joint condition that commonly affects the knee and hip causing pain, impaired function, and reduced quality of life. As there is no cure, the main goal of treatment is to alleviate symptoms via ongoing self-management predominantly consisting of exercise and weight loss (if indicated). However, many people with OA do not feel adequately informed about their condition and management options to self-manage effectively. Patient education is recommended by all OA Clinical Practice Guidelines to support appropriate self-management, but little is known about the optimal delivery method and content. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are free, interactive, e-learning courses. They have been used to deliver patient education in other chronic health conditions but have not been used in OA.MethodsA two-arm parallel-design, assessor- and participant-blinded superiority randomised controlled trial. People with persistent knee/hip pain consistent with a clinical diagnosis of knee/hip OA (n = 120) are being recruited from the Australia-wide community. Participants are randomly allocated into one of two groups i) electronic information pamphlet (control group) or ii) MOOC (experimental group). Those allocated to the control group receive access to an electronic pamphlet about OA and its recommended management, currently available from a reputable consumer organisation. Those allocated to the MOOC receive access to a 4-week 4-module interactive consumer-facing e-Learning course about OA and its recommended management. Course design was informed by behaviour theory and learning science, and consumer preferences. The two primary outcomes are OA knowledge and pain self-efficacy with a primary endpoint of 5 weeks and a secondary endpoint of 13 weeks. Secondary outcomes include measures of fear of movement, exercise self-efficacy, illness perceptions, OA management and health professional care seeking intentions, physical activity levels, and actual use of physical activity/exercise and weight loss, pain medication, and health professional care seeking to manage joint symptoms. Clinical outcomes and process measures are also collected.DiscussionFindings will determine whether a comprehensive consumer-facing MOOC improves OA knowledge and confidence to self-manage joint pain compared to a currently available electronic OA information pamphlet.Trial registrationProspectively registered (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ID: ACTRN12622001490763).

Impact of digital technologies on self-efficacy in people with Parkinson’s: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionParkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurological disease globally, for which currently no one definitive cause or cure exists. Estimates suggest that 145 000 people with Parkinson’s (PwP)...