Self-care and professionally guided care in osteoarthritis: racial differences in a population-based sample.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of self-management practices among older White and African American persons with osteoarthritis. Self-management was defined broadly to include all behaviors adopted to reduce morbidity, whether recommended by physicians or not.


METHODS
A population-based sample of Medicare beneficiaries (N = 551) was recruited. An expanded set of self-management behaviors using structured and open-ended inquiry, along with use of arthritis-specific medications was elicited.


RESULTS
Few differences in self-care behaviors between race groups were found. However, older African American persons were significantly less likely to have prescriptions for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) and more likely to use over-the-counter nonprescription analgesics.


CONCLUSIONS
Older White and African American persons made similar use of self-care strategies to reduce disease morbidity. African Americans without access to prescription pain relievers substituted nonprescription analgesics. A broader view of self-management is valuable for assessing the ways people may move between professionally guided care and self-care.
Albert
Steven M
SM
Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, A211 Crabtree, 130 DeSoto St., Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. smalbert@pitt.edu
Musa
Donald
D
Kwoh
C Kent
CK
Hanlon
Joseph T
JT
Silverman
Myrna
M
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000628:therapy*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs