Level and determinants of knowledge of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis among railway workers in Malaysia.
BACKGROUND
Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, an ancient malady greatly impairing modern population quality of life, has stimulated global attention to find effective modes of prevention and intervention.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess factors affecting knowledge of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (knee OA) among Malaysian railway workers.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 513 railway workers involving eight major states within Peninsular Malaysia using population-based sampling. The assessment instrument was a face-validated, prepiloted, self-administered instrument with sociodemographics and knowledge items on knee OA.


RESULTS
Mean (± SD) age of the respondents was 41.4 (± 10.7), with the majority aged 50 years or older (34.9%). Of the total respondents, 53.6% had low levels of knowledge of knee OA disease. Multivariate analysis found that four demographic predictors, age ≥ 50 years, family history of knee OA, self-awareness, and clinical diagnosis of the disease entity, were significantly associated with knowledge scores.


CONCLUSIONS
The finding of a low level knee OA knowledge among Malaysian railway workers points to an urgent need for massive information to be disseminated among the workers at risk to foster primary prevention and self-care.
International Medical School, Management and Science University (MSU), Shah Alam 40100 Selangor, Malaysia.
Kurubaran
0000-0002-9480-1815
K
Ganasegeran
International Medical University (IMU), 57000 Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
J Michael
JM
Menke
Department of Pathology, International Medical University (IMU), 57000 Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Vasudeva Murthy
VM
Challakere Ramaswamy
Community Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Cheras, 56000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Rizal
R
Abdul Manaf
Department Oral Biology and Biomedical Science, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya (UM), 50603 Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Aied M
AM
Alabsi
Department of Community Medicine, International Medical University (IMU), 57000 Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Sami Abdo Radman
SA
Al-Dubai
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011890:Railroads; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce