Comparison of self-management methods for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To determine and compare self-management methods used for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and to determine which methods patients consider most effective. METHODS Patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis were questioned about self-management methods and asked to indicate the most effective ones. RESULTS Twenty-seven patients with osteoarthritis and 26 with rheumatoid arthritis were interviewed. Exercise, joint protection, assistive devices and heat were the methods most commonly used. More patients with osteoarthritis than with rheumatoid arthritis used assistive devices (p=0.042). Exercise, assistive devices and heat were considered the most effective self-management methods. More patients with osteoarthritis than with rheumatoid arthritis considered assistive devices to be the most effective method (p=0.016). CONCLUSION More patients with osteoarthritis than with rheumatoid arthritis used and indicated assistive devices as the most effective self-management method. Similar numbers of patients in both groups used other self-management methods.