Effect of Elderly Women’s Socio-demographic Characteristics on Knee Osteoarthritis Pain
Research Abstract
Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. Some people call it degenerative joint disease or “wear and tear” arthritis. It occurs most frequently in the hands, hips, and knees. Osteoarthritis has a multifactorial etiology as aging, joint injury and trauma, obesity, genetics, anatomic Factors, demographics and gut-joint axis. Aim: The aim of the current study is to assess the effect of elderly women's socio- demographic characteristics on knee osteoarthritis pain. Design: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was utilized in the current study. Setting: the study was carried out at Beni-Suef university hospital in orthopedics outpatient clinic and the physiotherapy unit. Subjects: A non-probability consecutive sampling technique of a total 300 studied women was recruited in the current study. Tools: interviewing questionnaire, and Visual Analog scale (VAS). Results: revealed that reveals that, more than two-thirds (70%) of studied elderly women had severe pain, 40.0% of elderly women aged 60-70 years old, 38.3% with intermediate education, 46.3% of retied, 39.7% of urban dwellers, 58% of married and 39.3% of who had inadequate family income elderly women documented severe pain level. Conclusion: Severe levels of pain were more prevalent among younger, intermittent educational level, lower income, retired, married, and urban elderly women. Statistically significance differences between elderly women’ pain level and their age and monthly income were revealed. While, there were highly statistically significant differences between elderly women’ pain level and their educational level, occupational status, marital status and residence place. Recommendations: Developing a simplified illustrated and comprehensive Arabic booklet including information about osteoarthritis, its therapeutic regimen and coping strategies.
Research Keywords
elderly, knee osteoarthritis, pain, women, socio-demographic