title: One-Year Results of an Educational Program on Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial in Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is the most prevalent form of osteoarthritis. Low socioeconomic level, age, and obesity are directly correlated with the incidence of the disease. Education, exercise, and diet are the core recommendations of all KOA treatment guidelines.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of a multiprofessional educational program on patients with KOA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of a total of 198 participants, 150 patients with KOA attended 2 days of lectures (at 1- to 3-month intervals) and received educational material on osteoarthritis, and a control group (48 patients) received educational materials only. Body mass index (BMI), frequency, and intensity of physical activity, pain, function, and quality-of-life scores were assessed at baseline and at 4 and 12 months after the educational program. Bimonthly telephone calls were made to half of the participants. Correlations between BMI, level of education, coping skills, functional, and pain results was procured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The groups were similar in terms of race, gender, affected side, and osteoarthritis severity. The results were not affected by the telephone calls or the patients' level of education. At baseline, 25 performed physical activity, whereas 123 performed at 1 year. Seventy-two (36.36%) patients decreased BMI (45 by 1 point and 27 by more than 2 points). There were some weak correlations such as BMI reduction with pain and functional improvements and with coping results. Significant improvements in function and quality of life were found at 4 months. Quality of life remained improved at 1 year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effect of this educational program in function and quality of life of patients with KOA is very subtle. Interval between classes (1, 2, or 3 months) is not an important issue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia Uchoa
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: de Rezende
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Issao
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Hissadomi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo Constantino
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: de Campos
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frucchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Felício
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Pailo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pasqualin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nadia Lucila Rocha
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Olga Fugiko Magashima
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Santana
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Merilu Marins
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina Guimarães
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Strutz
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Natalia Beraldo Dos Santos
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Olavo Pires
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: de Camargo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Arnaldo José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hernandez
keywords: education; knee; osteoarthritis; quality of life; treatment outcome