title: The effects of self-management intervention among middle-age adults with knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore the effects of a self-management intervention for middle-aged adults with knee osteoarthritis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Knee osteoarthritis is a common cause of lower limb disability in middle-aged and older adults. Use of self-management interventions that apply the self-regulation theory have not been reported for patients with knee osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental design was applied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Knee osteoarthritis patients were recruited from two medical centres in northern Taiwan by convenience sampling between July 2013-May 2014. We developed a self-management intervention programme for knee osteoarthritis; participants began an individualized programme 4 weeks after recruitment. Effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Health Care Questionnaire and the Short-Form Health Survey. A generalized estimating equation compared assessment scores for 105 participants after the intervention (10 and 18 weeks) with scores at 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Knee symptoms and physical function scores significantly improved and quality-of-life scores significantly increased while body mass index, unplanned medical consultations and doses of pain medication significantly decreased at 10 and 18 weeks compared with 4 weeks. After adjusting for the effect of time- and significant-related factors, knee symptoms and physical function, body mass index and quality of life significantly improved at 10 and 18 weeks compared with 4 weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The self-management intervention based on self-regulation theory, improved participants' symptoms and functions of knee osteoarthritis, overall health and quality of life. Offering self-management interventions in clinical practice can be beneficial for patients with knee osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Mackay Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yun-Fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei city, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ting-Kuo
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Healthy Aging Research Center, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jong-Shyan
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chie-Pein
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Science and Department of Mathematics, Tamkang University, Tamsui, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yue-Cune
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000451:nursing*; D010146:Pain; D011788:Quality of Life; D000073278:Self-Management; D013624:Taiwan
keywords: care need; nursing; osteoarthritis; quality of life; self-management; symptom