title: Evaluating the effects of an educational symposium on knowledge, impact, and self-management of older african americans living with osteoarthritis.
abstract: The purpose of the study1 was to determine the effects of a 1-day educational symposium on knowledge, impact, and self-management of older African Americans living with osteoarthritis (OA). A 1-group pre- and posttest design was employed. The educational symposium was the intervention variable. Speakers were experts in the field of arthritis care. Participants were recruited from a community senior center. Participants completed the Short Form of the Arthritis Impact Management Scales (AIMS2-SF), the Summary of Arthritis Management Methods (SAMMS), and a 6-question Knowledge Test about OA before the symposium. The knowledge test was administered again at the completion of the program. Posttesting of the AIMS2-SF and SAMMS occurred 3 months later to assess changes in arthritis impact and self-management strategies. Knowledge scores increased significantly immediately following the symposium. The AIMS2-SF subscales of Affect, Symptom, and Physical Function decreased significantly 3 months after the symposium indicating that arthritis had less impact on participants after the conference. Participants also reported using more self-management methods 3 months after the event. The results of this pilot study indicate that this symposium was effective in increasing participants' knowledge of OA, improving self-management, and decreasing the impact of OA on daily function. The small sample size and preexperimental design limit generalizability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Gerontology Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta 30303-3088, USA. ltaylor@gsu.edu
authors.forename: Leslie F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Carolyn C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kee
authors.forename: Sharon V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Theresa A B Lawrence
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ford
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000451:nursing*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care