title: Feasibility of a dyadic intervention for management of osteoarthritis: a pilot study with older patients and their spousal caregivers.
abstract: This study evaluated a novel intervention for older osteoarthritis (OA) patients and their spousal caregivers that consisted of standard patient education supplemented by information related to effectively managing arthritis as a couple. Twenty-four female OA patients and their husbands were randomly assigned to either an educational intervention that was targeted at both patient and spouse or to a patient education intervention that was targeted at only the patient. Findings revealed that both interventions were evaluated favorably but the couple intervention was better attended than the patient intervention. In addition, patients in the couple intervention experienced greater increased efficacy in managing arthritis pain and other symptoms. The findings of this pilot study point to the utility of a dyadic intervention approach to management of OA in late life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and University Center for Social & Urban Research, 121 University Place, Room 508, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. martire@pitt.edu
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Martire
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Keefe
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Starz
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Osial
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dew
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology