Engaging African American Older Adults With Arthritis in a Physical Activity Intervention

Launched by DUKE UNIVERSITY · Dec 7, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common risk factors for disability for African American older adults. Older adults who identify as African American experience more severe arthritis, higher pain levels, more pain related interference, more health problems that occur alongside arthritis, and have greater problems accessing appropriate and timely care for arthritis than other racial and ethnic groups. Physical activity can help improve pain and is safe even for older adults, but few older adults walk regularly due to pain, psychological distress, and other environmental barriers for walking....

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. age 65 or older
• • 2. English speaking
• • 3. identify as Black/African American
• • 4. diagnosis of osteoarthritis in knee or hip
• • 5. able to ambulate even if assisted with walker or cane
• • 6. endorse worst pain and pain interference as ≥ 3 out of 10 within the last week
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. hearing or visual impairment that would prevent ability to participate in sessions or use participant worksheets, even with use of adaptive supports/devices
• • 2. planned surgery during study duration that would limit mobility (e.g., due to recommended rehabilitation or recovery period) for more than 3 weeks
• • 3. current enrollment in cardiac rehabilitation
• • 4. myocardial infarction in the past 3 months
• • 5. major surgery requiring limited movement or mobility for recovery within the past 3 months
• • 6. presence of a serious psychiatric condition (e.g., schizophrenia, suicidal intent) that would contraindicate safe study participation
• • 7. Medical provider indicating that exercise (even walking) should only be medically supervised
• • 8. fall or falls within the last 3 months that led to immediate medical treatment/hospitalization
• • 9. reported or suspected moderate or severe cognitive impairment
• • 10. brain tumor/cancer metastases to the brain
• • 11. no other conditions that would preclude safe participation (e.g., unmanaged heart conditions, neurodegenerative condition, unmanaged diabetes, severe respiratory disease), as screened the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q+ 2020, a measure widely utilized by the U.S. National Academy of Sports Medicine and the Public Health Agency of Canada). Answers to the PARQ+2020 may result in review by patient physicians for safety prior to enrollment.

Trial Officials