SELF-MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (PARQVE) IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE IN SEVERE KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rheumatology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Severe knee osteoarthritis (KOA) significantly impacts patient function and quality of life.
• Self-management programs offer a potential avenue for improving outcomes in KOA patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the PARQVE self-management program in patients with severe KOA.
• To assess the impact of PARQVE on pain, function, and quality of life over 24 months.

Main Methods:

• Prospective randomized controlled trial involving 65 patients with grade IV KOA.
• Intervention group received usual care plus a multi-professional intervention, DVD, and book on OA. Control group received usual care.
• Outcome measures included WOMAC, NRS, Lequesne, weight, BMI, and radiographic assessments at baseline and follow-up points up to 24 months.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed statistically significant improvements in WOMAC scores and total function (p<0.001) exceeding 12% over the study period.
• These improvements peaked at 12 months but did not reach the minimal clinically important difference of 20%.
• No significant changes in body composition were observed.

Conclusions:

• The PARQVE self-management program offers mild to moderate functional and quality of life benefits for individuals with severe KOA.
• While statistically significant, the observed improvements did not meet the minimal clinically important difference threshold.
• The program's effectiveness appears to be sustained up to one year post-intervention.