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M. Alasfour1,2, M. Almarwani2
1Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Background: The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (OA) among older adults in Saudi Arabia is high, with a higher rate observed among women. Home exercise programs (HEPs) are among the most beneficial treatments for older adults with knee OA. The effectiveness of HEPs depends on the extent to which the patient adheres to the program. However, older adults do not adhere to HEPs for a prolonged period. Smart device applications (apps) could be an effective strategy to enhance patient adherence to HEPs. To our knowledge, there has not been an Arabic app developed specifically to deliver HEPs to older women with knee OA in Saudi Arabia.
Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to examine the effect of an innovative Arabic smartphone app on the adherence to HEPs among Saudi older women with knee OA compared to using paper hand-outs.
The secondary aim was to examine the effectiveness of a HEP delivered through an innovative Arabic smartphone app on pain, physical function, and lower-limb muscle strength among Saudi older women with knee OA compared to HEP using paper hand-outs.
The secondary aim was to examine the effectiveness of a HEP delivered through an innovative Arabic smartphone app on pain, physical function, and lower-limb muscle strength among Saudi older women with knee OA compared to HEP using paper hand-outs.
Methods: This was a randomized control trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: (NCT04159883). We enrolled 40 women aged ≥50 years with knee OA who were randomized into the app group (experimental; n=20) receiving HEPs using an Arabic smartphone application called “My Dear Knee”, whereas the paper group (control; n=20) receiving HEPs as a handout. Both groups had the same exercise program. Outcome measures were self-reported adherence and changes in the Arabic Numeric Pain Rating Scale, the Arabic version of the reduced Western Ontario, McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index-Physical Function subscale, and Five-Times Sit-To-Stand Test scores. All participants were assessed at baseline and at weeks 3 and 6. Using completer-only analyses, the repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the means of the outcomes between the two groups.
Results: At the end of week 6, the app group reported greater adherence to HEPs (p=0.002) and a significant reduction in pain (p=0.015) compared to the paper group.
Conclusion(s): A smartphone application with motivational and attractive features could be an effective way to enhance adherence to HEPs among Saudi older women with knee OA.
Implications:
- Older adults with knee OA may face many obstacles that prevent or limit their adherence to the prescribed HEP.
- Smart device apps supported with attractive and motivational features could be an effective strategy to enhance adherence to HEPs among older women with knee OA.
- Using such remote technology appears to overcome the barriers that may limit the ability of older Saudi women to receive supervised physical therapy in a clinical setting.
Funding, acknowledgements: This work was unfunded.
Keywords: exercise adherence, mobile Health, older adults
Topic: Innovative technology: information management, big data and artificial intelligence
Did this work require ethics approval? Yes
Institution: King Saud University
Committee: The Research Ethics Application
Ethics number: CAMS148-3839
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
