An epidemiological study of self-care restriction and joint pain in older people [PhD Thesis]
Data collected at three time points, by postal questionnaire across 6 years in the North Staffordshire Osteoarthritis project, were used in the analysis (n=7725 at baseline). The prevalence of person-perceived restricted self-care was 11.5% (95% CI 10.8, 12.2). A parsimonious model of factors associated with self-care restriction included age, activity limitation, depression, cognitive impairment, perceived inadequacy of income and low educational attainment. Older adults with joint pain were more likely to report self-care restriction, although this association was not independent of other factors. The frequencies of onset and persistence of restricted self-care at three years were 6.6% (95% CI 5.9, 7.5) and 38.9% (95% CI 33.7, 44.3) respectively. The key factors associated with restricted self-care at baseline were also predictive of the onset of self-care restriction at three years, but only depression was predictive of persistence.
Unmet need for help and assistance was associated with restricted self-care in older adults with joint pain. However, those who received help were also more likely to report restriction.
These analyses suggest a range of potential health and social targets for reducing self-care restriction in individuals with joint pain in middle and old age.