Evaluating the effects of an educational symposium on knowledge, impact, and self-management of older african americans living with osteoarthritis

• Published in: Journal of community health nursing Vol. 21; no. 4; p. 229
• Main Authors: Taylor, Leslie F, Kee, Carolyn C, King, Sharon V, Ford, Theresa A B Lawrence
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 2004
• Subjects: African Americans; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Georgia; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoarthritis - nursing; Patient Education as Topic; Self Care; Georgia
• ISSN: 0737-0016; 1532-7655
• DOI: 10.1207/s15327655jchn2104_3

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.