Use of non-pharmacological therapies among patients with osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
Non-pharmacological therapies are an important component of treatment for osteoarthritis (OA), but they may be under-used. This study examined the prevalence of self-reported use of common non-pharmacological therapies, as well as patient and physician-related predictors of use.


METHODS
Subjects included 205 veterans who completed a survey regarding OA symptoms and treatments. Analyses examined the prevalence of use of three specific non-pharmacological therapies: exercise, physical therapy (PT), and dietary/herbal supplements. We also examined whether patient variables (demographics, clinical characteristics, and perceived helpfulness of non-pharmacological therapies) and physician characteristics (age, gender, race, and recommendation of non-pharmacological therapies) were associated with use of each therapy.


RESULTS
Forty-six percent of subjects reported current use of exercise, 11% reported using PT, and 12%, dietary/herbal supplements. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics were generally poor predictors of use of non-pharmacological therapy. However, females were more likely to report exercising than males (p<0.05), and patients with greater disease severity were more likely to report current use of PT (p<0.001). Patients' perceived helpfulness of each therapy significantly predicted use (p<0.05). Physician demographic characteristics were not strong predictors of patients' use of therapy, but physician recommendation for exercise and PT predicted patients' use (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Among this sample of veterans with OA, there was relatively low use of exercise, PT, and dietary/herbal supplements. Patients' perceptions of treatment helpfulness and physician recommendations strongly predicted use. These results signal the importance of interventions aimed at educating both patients and physicians about these therapies.
Hsieh
Jason B
JB
Health Services Research and Development Service, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA. domin004@mc.duke.edu
Dominick
Kelli L
KL
D000368:Aged; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires