The Effect of a Self-management Program on the Quality-of-Life of Community-dwelling Older Adults with Chronic Musculoskeletal Knee Pain: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To evaluate a 6-week self-management program on pain conducted in a mobile setting at the residences of older adult participants.

Methods: In this single-blinded randomized controlled trial, 46 community-dwelling older adults with chronic knee pain were randomly assigned to the experimental (n = 19) and wait-list control groups (n = 27). The experimental group engaged in the 6-week program while the control group was only given some pamphlets on exercise and joint care. The pain level, physical functions, QOL, and self-efficacy of the participants in both groups were assessed at baseline, post-program, and at the 1-month follow-up session. Both baseline and post-program (or post-control-period assessment) data were analyzed.

Results: The results showed that the participants in the experimental group had a higher level of self-efficacy, better performance in walking test, a higher level of quality-of-life, and less frequency of pain at the post-program follow-up as compared to the control group. The effect was maintained among the experimental group at post-4-week follow-up and further reduction in pain was detected.

Conclusions: The program appeared to be effective at improving the pain status, self-efficacy, functional performance, and quality-of-life of older adults. However, as the sample size was small, further study is suggested to investigate the effects of the program.

KEYWORDS:

• Chronic musculoskeletal pain
• community-dwelling older adults
• quality-of-life
• self-management program

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported in part by the PolyU-Henry G. Leong Mobile Integrative Health Centre, which is funded by a generous donation from the Tai Hung Fai Charitable Foundation established by the philanthropist Dr. Edwin S. H. Leong.