Self-efficacy in multimorbid elderly patients with osteoarthritis in primary care--influence on pain-related disability

Clin Rheumatol. 2015 Oct;34(10):1761-7. doi: 10.1007/s10067-014-2766-0. Epub 2014 Sep 6.

Abstract

The impact of self-efficacy on pain-related disability in multimorbid elderly patients in primary care is not known. The aim of our study was to analyze the influence of self-efficacy on the relation between pain intensity and pain-related disability, controlled for age and disease count, in aged multimorbid primary care patients with osteoarthritis and chronic pain. Patients were recruited in the German MultiCare study (trial registration: ISRCTN89818205). Pain was assessed using the Graded Chronic Pain Scale, and self-efficacy using the General Self-Efficacy Scale. We employed SPSS for statistical analysis. One thousand eighteen primary care patients were included in the study. Correlation analyses showed significant correlations between pain intensity and pain-related disability (r = 0.591, p < 0.001), pain intensity and general self-efficacy (r = 0.078, p < 0.05), and between general self-efficacy and pain-related disability (r = 0.153, p < 0.001). Multiple mediator analysis gives indications that self-efficacy partially mediates the relation between pain intensity and pain-related disability. In our results, we found little evidence that self-efficacy partially mediates the relation between pain intensity and pain-related disability in aged multimorbid primary care patients with osteoarthritis and chronic pain. Further research is necessary to prove the effect.

Keywords: Elderly patients; Multimorbidity; Osteoarthritis; Pain; Primary care; Self-efficacy.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Comorbidity*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Disabled Persons
  • Female
  • Geriatrics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Osteoarthritis / complications*
  • Osteoarthritis / therapy*
  • Pain / diagnosis*
  • Pain Management / methods*
  • Pain Measurement
  • Primary Health Care / organization & administration
  • Self Efficacy*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Associated data

  • ISRCTN/ISRCTN89818205