Can the provision of information to patients with osteoarthritis improve functional status? A randomized, controlled trial.
After we assessed the functional status of 439 patients with osteoarthritis, we randomly assigned them to 1 of 3 intervention groups or to a control group. The interventions consisted of providing information, and differed only in the method of delivery: by phone, in person at the clinic, or both. Physical health improved (P = 0.02), pain was reduced (P = 0.02), and psychological health improved marginally (P = 0.10) in patients contacted by phone compared with those not contacted by phone. In those contacted only at the clinic, physical health worsened (P = 0.02), but neither pain (P = 0.80) nor psychological health (P = 0.90) differed from the values in patients not contacted at the clinic. We conclude that telephone contact is a useful intervention that can enhance the functional status of patients with osteoarthritis.
Weinberger
M
M
Health Services Research and Development Field Program, Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center, NC 27705.
Tierney
W M
WM
Booher
P
P
Katz
B P
BP
D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010146:Pain; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013689:Telephone