One-Year Results of an Educational Program on Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is the most prevalent form of osteoarthritis. Low socioeconomic level, age, and obesity are directly correlated with the incidence of the disease. Education, exercise, and diet are the core recommendations of all KOA treatment guidelines. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of a multiprofessional educational program on patients with KOA. METHODS: Of a total of 198 participants, 150 patients with KOA attended 2 days of lectures (at 1- to 3-month intervals) and received educational material on osteoarthritis, and a control group (48 patients) received educational materials only. Body mass index (BMI), frequency, and intensity of physical activity, pain, function, and quality-of-life scores were assessed at baseline and at 4 and 12 months after the educational program. Bimonthly telephone calls were made to half of the participants. Correlations between BMI, level of education, coping skills, functional, and pain results was procured. RESULTS: The groups were similar in terms of race, gender, affected side, and osteoarthritis severity. The results were not affected by the telephone calls or the patients' level of education. At baseline, 25 performed physical activity, whereas 123 performed at 1 year. Seventy-two (36.36%) patients decreased BMI (45 by 1 point and 27 by more than 2 points). There were some weak correlations such as BMI reduction with pain and functional improvements and with coping results. Significant improvements in function and quality of life were found at 4 months. Quality of life remained improved at 1 year. CONCLUSION: The effect of this educational program in function and quality of life of patients with KOA is very subtle. Interval between classes (1, 2, or 3 months) is not an important issue.

Schooling of the patients and clinical application of questionnaires in osteoarthitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the consistency of the questionnaires (WOMAC, Lequesne, VAS, SF 36-PCS and SF 36-MCS) when applied in patients with osteoarthritis of the knees (KOA) verifying if age and level of education interfere with the completion of the questionnaires. METHOD: One hundred and two patients with KOA answered WOMAC, LESQUESNE, VAS and SF-36 questionnaires and provided data correlated with age and education. The internal consistency of the WOMAC questionnaire was verified with Cronbach's alpha. Pearson's correlations between the questionnaires, age and educational level was performed. RESULTS: Mean age was 65 years old. Schooling averaged 7.94 years; WOMAC 47.95; VAS 63.57; Lequesne 12.29; PCS and MCS 31.91 43.68. Cronbach's alpha for WOMAC 0.9. Education did not affect WOMAC response (r=-0.182, p = 0.067) and MCS (r=0.021 / p=0.835), but showed weak but significant correlation with VAS (r=-0.264 / p=0.007), Lequesne (r=0.277, p=0.005) and PCS (r=0.309/ p=0.002). Age showed significant direct correlation only with PCS (r=0.205, p=0.039). CONCLUSION: The level of education does not interfere with the completion of WOMAC but may interfere with completing VAS, Lequesne and physical component of SF-36. Level of Evidence II, Retrospective Study.

Schooling of the patients and clinical application of questionnaires in osteoarthitis

Avaliar a consistência dos Questionários WOMAC,LEQUESNE, EVA, SF 36-PCS e SF 36-MCS quando aplicadosem pacientes portadores de osteoartrite dos joelhos (OAJ), verificandose a escolaridade e a idade interferem no preenchimentodos questionários. Método: Cento e dois pacientes comdiagnóstico de OAJ responderam os questionários de WOMAC,LESQUESNE, EVA e SF-36 e forneceram dados correlacionadoscom idade e escolaridade. Foi verificada a consistência internado questionário de WOMAC com uso do alpha de Cronbach, eas correlações de Pearson entre as escalas avaliadas, a idadee a escolaridade. Resultados: A idade média foi de 65 anos, ea escolaridade média de 7,94 anos: WOMAC 47,95; EVA 63,57;Lequesne 12,29; PCS 31,91 e MCS 43,68. Alfa de Crombachpara WOMAC de 0,9. Aleatoriedade do WOMAC segundo escolaridade(correlação – 0,182 / p= 0,067) e baixa correlaçãodas escalas EVA (r =-0,264/p=0,007), Lequesne (r =-0,277/p= 0,005), PCS (r = 0,309/p = 0,002) e MCS (r= 0,021/ p=0,835) com a escolaridade dos pacientes. A idade apresentoucorrelação direta significativa apenas com PCS (r= 0,205/ p=0,039). Conclusão: O grau de escolaridade não interfere nopreenchimento do WOMAC, mas pode interferir no preenchimentodo EVA, Lequesne e componente físico do SF-36. Nível deEvidência II, Estudo Retrospectivo...

Objective: To evaluate the consistency of the questionnaires(WOMAC, Lequesne, VAS, SF 36-PCS and SF 36-MCS)when applied in patients with osteoarthritis of the knees(KOA) verifying if age and level of education interfere withthe completion of the questionnaires. Method: One hundredand two patients with KOA answered WOMAC, LESQUESNE,VAS and SF-36 questionnaires and provided data correlatedwith age and education. The internal consistency of theWOMAC questionnaire was verified with Cronbach’s alpha.Pearson’s correlations between the questionnaires, age andeducational level was performed. Results: Mean age was 65years old. Schooling averaged 7.94 years; WOMAC 47.95;VAS 63.57; Lequesne 12.29; PCS and MCS 31.91 43.68.Cronbach’s alpha for WOMAC 0.9. Education did not affectWOMAC response (r=-0.182, p = 0.067) and MCS (r=0.021/ p=0.835), but showed weak but significant correlation withVAS (r=-0.264 / p=0.007), Lequesne (r=0.277, p=0.005)and PCS (r=0.309/ p=0.002). Age showed significant directcorrelation only with PCS (r=0.205, p=0.039). Conclusion:The level of education does not interfere with the completionof WOMAC but may interfere with completing VAS, Lequesneand physical component of SF-36. Level of Evidence II,Retrospective Study...