Osteoarthritis and fear of physical activity—The effect of patient education

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the current study was twofold. The first aim was to investigate, from the aspects of gender, age and Body Mass Index, the prevalence of fear among individuals with osteoarthritis that their joints would be harmed if the performed physical activity. The second aim was to determine if a patient education programme might lessen this fear. Method: A total of 100 participants were enrolled in a randomised controlled study and completed measures on two occasions over the course of six months. The participants were randomised to either an intervention group or to a control group. Results: More than a quarter of the participants feared that their joints would be harmed if they performed physical activity. This was reported by significantly more men than women. Age and Body Mass Index did not seem to have any significant impact on the fear. The patient education programme for osteoarthritis reduced fear significantly (p = 0.010). Conclusions: A patient education programme appear to be one way of reducing the fear among individuals with osteoarthritis, that the joints would be harmed by physical activity.

Keywords

• fear
• intervention
• patient education programme
• osteoarthritis
• physical activity
• physiotherapy
• randomized controlled trial