Staja Q. Booker|Keela Herr|Toni Tripp?Reimer
Patterns and Perceptions of Self-Management for Osteoarthritis Pain in African American Older Adults
University of Florida|University of Iowa|University of Iowa
abstract objective explore describe older african americans patterns perceptions managing chronic osteoarthritis pain methods convergent parallel mixedmethods design incorporating crosssectional surveys individual semistructured interviews setting one hundred ten african americans 50 years age clinical osteoarthritis oa providerdiagnosed oa communities northern louisiana enrolled results although frequency varied depending severity pain older african americans actively used average seven eight selfmanagement strategies course month control pain average number selfmanagement strategies high low education literacy groups statistically different highereducated adults used approximately one additional strategy high school less achieve pain relief african americans relied 10 selfmanagement strategies inexpensive easy use access generally perceived helpful overthecounter otc topicals thermal modalities landbased exercise spiritual activities otc prescribed analgesics orthotic assistive devices joint injections rest massage vitamins conclusions one first studies quantitatively qualitatively investigate selfmanagement chronic oa pain older african american population happened predominantly highereducated healthliterate sample findings indicate southerndwelling african americans highly engaged range different selfmanagement strategies many selfinitiated although still important component chronic pain selfmanagement spirituality used less half african americans use oral nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs opioids relatively high