Abstract:
Osteoarthritis trends to increase especially among middle-aged and elderly females. Severe degenerative joint disease has become one of the major health problems resulting in chronic pain and disability or deformity. This quasi-experimental research aimed to study the effectiveness of program to prevent osteoarthritis in a risk group of women aged 50-60 years with a BMI 23.0-29.9 kg/m2. The sample consisted of 45 participants that were divided into 2 groups with 23 participants in the experimental group and 22 participants in the comparison group. The experimental group participated in the osteoarthritis prevention program twice within 8 weeks. Data were collected through 3 rounds of interviews; before, after and follow-up of the intervention. Percentage, Mean, Standard Deviation, Chi-Square test, Independent t- test and Repeated measure ANOVA were used for data analysis. Results indicated that after intervention the experimental group had a higher mean scores regarding the response efficacy toward osteoarthritis preventive behaviors than those before participated in the program (p-value<.05). The posttest and follow-up mean scores of osteoarthritis preventive behavior and the Quadriceps femoris muscle strength were also higher than those at the pretest (p-value<.05). The BMI mean scores reduced the time of follow-up (p-value<.05). Regarding the comparison between the experimental and comparison groups, findings indicated a higher posttest and follow-up mean scores on perceived severity of osteoarthritis, mean scores on perceived response efficacy of preventive behavior, mean scores of osteoarthritis preventive behavior, and the Quadriceps femoris muscle strength in the experimental group than those in the comparison group. However, BMI posttest mean scores during the follow-up were lower than those in the comparison group (p-value<.05). In summary, the osteoarthritis of the knee prevention program among a risk group of women aged 50-60 years helped increase efficacy of preventive the knowledge regarding the perceived severity of osteoarthritis, perceived response behavior, as well as improvement in the Quadriceps femoris muscle strength and reduction in BMI. Findings suggest that the application of this program for prevention of osteoarthritis among females risk group by focusing on activities to increase the knowledge regarding the perceived severity and perceived response efficacy of preventive behavior. However, follow up should be perform to ensure continuous development of personal behaviors.