Application and effects of a self-management program for patients with knee osteoarthritis

This study examined the effects of a self-management program (exercise therapy, dietary education, and aromatherapy) on physical symptoms (pain, daily living function, exercise function), quality of life, and sleep disturbances in knee osteoarthritis patients at a clinic in Andong city. A total of 66 patients (33 experimental, 33 control) with stage 2 or higher knee osteoarthritis participated. Data were analyzed using a statistical program, including descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentages, means, χ² test, t-test, and Fisher exact test and Bonferroni, and analysis of variance to examine the research objectives and measurement variables. Significant improvements were observed in the experimental group for pain, daily living functions, exercise functions, and quality of life (F=62.73, P<0.001; F=22.68, P<0.001; F=8.19, P=0.006; F=14.02, P<0.001, respectively). Additionally, significant interactions between time points and group effects were found, indicating differences in the patterns of change in physical symptoms, daily living functions, exercise functions, and quality of life between the groups (F=34.56, P<0.001; F=15.42, P<0.001; F=5.82, P=0.019; F=11.77, P=0.001). For sleep disturbances improved in the experimental group (F=16.79, P<0.001), but no significant group-time interactions were found (F=0.01, P=0.920). These findings suggest that self-management program effectively reduce pain and enhance physical function, quality of life, and sleep, emphasizing the need for structured, ongoing educational interventions for knee osteoarthritis patients.