Management of Musculoskeletal Conditions in Rural South Australia: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Musculoskeletal conditions are increasingly prevalent in aging populations.
• Rural communities face unique challenges in managing chronic conditions.
• Evidence-based interventions are needed to improve health outcomes for older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a 'Self-management Plus' intervention compared to usual care for managing musculoskeletal conditions in older adults.
• To assess the impact of the intervention on physical functioning and quality of life.
• To identify potential barriers to intervention feasibility in a rural setting.

Main Methods:

• A rural-based study comparing a multi-component intervention (self-management education, physical activity, professional support) with usual care.
• 145 participants aged 66.1 (intervention) and 63.3 (control) years were recruited.
• Outcomes measured at 6 months included the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement Scale (CGI-IS) and Quality of Life (QoL).

Main Results:

• The 'Self-management Plus' intervention group showed significantly greater improvements in global functioning (CGI-IS: 3.2) than the usual care group (CGI-IS: 4.2).
• No significant differences in Quality of Life (QoL) improvement were observed between the groups.
• Participant recruitment and retention posed challenges, indicating potential feasibility issues.

Conclusions:

• A multi-component 'Self-management Plus' intervention positively impacts physical functioning in older adults with musculoskeletal conditions.
• While effective for physical function, the intervention did not improve quality of life.
• Challenges in recruitment and retention necessitate modifications for successful implementation in rural settings.