Effects of a self-management arthritis programme with an added exercise component for osteoarthritic knee: randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Journal of advanced nursing 2007-07, Vol.59 (1), p.20-28
• Main Authors: Yip, Y. B., Sit, Janet W. H., Fung, Karin K. Y., Wong, Doris Y. S., Chong, Samantha Y. C., Chung, L. H., Ng, T. P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arthritis; Clinical outcomes; Disease management; Exercise; Exercise Therapy - methods; Female; healthcare professionals; Humans; Knee; Male; Middle Aged; Nursing; osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis, Knee - rehabilitation; Osteoarthritis, Knee - therapy; pain; Pain Measurement - methods; Patient Education as Topic; randomized controlled trial; Self Care - methods; Self help; self-efficacy; self-management
• ISSN: 0309-2402; 1365-2648
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04292.x

Title. Effects of a self‐management arthritis programme with an added exercise component for osteoarthritic knee: randomized controlled trial. Aim.  This paper is a report of a study to assess the effect of an adapted arthritis self‐management programme with an added focus on exercise practice among osteoarthritic knee sufferers. Background.  Osteoarthritis of the knee is a major source of loss of function in older people. Previous studies have found self‐management programmes to be effective in increasing arthritis self‐efficacy and in mastery of self‐management practice. Method.  A randomized control trial was carried out from December 2002 to May 2003 and 120 participants (65·9%, including 67 in intervention group and 53 in control group) completed the 16‐week postintervention assessments. Outcome measures included arthritis self‐efficacy, use of self‐management techniques, pain intensity and daily activity. Findings.  At 16 weeks, there was a ‘statistically’ significant improvement in the arthritis self‐efficacy level (P ≤ 0·001), in most of the self‐management skills, i.e. use of cold and hot compresses, in two of three joint protective practices (P ≤ 0·001; P = 0·01), an increase in the duration of light exercise practice (P ≤ 0·001), reduction of current arthritis pain (P ≤ 0·001) and in the ability to perform daily activities (P ≤ 0·001) among the intervention group but not for the control group (P‐range from 0·04 to 0·95). One joint protective practice showed a statistically significant increase in both groups (P ≤ 0·001). Conclusion.  Our findings add to evidence showing short‐term beneficial effects of self‐efficacy theory in education programmes. Self‐efficacy theory has great potential for empowering sufferers of chronic conditions to live with their illness.