Short-Term Effects of a Self-Management Intervention on Health Status of Housebound Older Adults With Arthritis

This study examines the impact of a self-management intervention for housebound adults with arthritis and presence of moderating variables. A total of 113 adults with a mean age of 77.7 years and diagnosed with osteoarthritis (62%) or rheumatoid arthritis (38%) were randomized to intervention (n = 65) and control groups (n = 48). Information on health, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and health behaviors was collected (a) at baseline, (b) 2 months later, and (c) following the intervention. Multilevel analysis reveals that experimental group participants reported significantly fewer functional limitations and less helplessness than control participants postintervention. A trend for improved coping effectiveness was observed (p = .06). Greater improvements in outcome expectations and physical behaviors were associated with greater decreases in helplessness. Larger improvements in outcome expectations were associated with greater decreases in functional limitations. A structured self-management intervention can have a positive impact on the health status of housebound adults with arthritis.