Comparisons of Body Image Perceptions of a Sample of Black and White Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia in the US.

Objective: To explore the disease-related, body image (BI) perceptions of women diagnosed with, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and fibromyalgia (FM).

Methods: A purposive sample of twenty-seven females participated in individual semi-structured phone interviews to elicit BI perceptions relative to pain, activity limitations and coping measures. Sessions were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and content analyzed.

Individual and community socioeconomic status: impact on mental health in individuals with arthritis.

To examine the impact of individual and community socioeconomic status (SES) measures on mental health outcomes in individuals with arthritis, participants with self-reported arthritis completed a telephone survey assessing health status, health attitudes and beliefs, and sociodemographic variables. Regression analyses adjusting for race, gender, BMI, comorbidities, and age were performed to determine the impact of individual and community level SES on mental health outcomes (i.e.

Independent associations of socioeconomic factors with disability and pain in adults with knee osteoarthritis.

Background: The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between function, pain and stiffness outcomes with individual and community socioeconomic status (SES) measures among individuals with radiographic knee osteoarthritis (rOA).

Methods: Cross-sectional data from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project were analyzed for adults age 45 and older with knee rOA (n = 782) and a subset with both radiographic and symptomatic knee OA (n = 471). Function, pain and stiffness were measured using the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Index of Osteoarthritis (WOMAC).

Evaluation of active living every day in adults with arthritis.

Background: Adults with arthritis can benefit from participation in physical activity and may be assisted by organized programs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 20-week behavioral lifestyle intervention, Active Living Every Day (ALED), for improvements in primary outcomes (physical activity levels, aerobic endurance, function, symptoms).

Methods: A 20-week randomized controlled community trial was conducted in 354 adults.

Associations of educational attainment, occupation, and community poverty with hip osteoarthritis.

Objective: To examine cross-sectional baseline data from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project for the association between individual and community socioeconomic status (SES) measures with hip osteoarthritis (OA) outcomes.

Methods: We analyzed data on 3,087 individuals (68% white and 32% African American). Educational attainment and occupation were used as individual measures of SES.

What community resources do older community-dwelling adults use to manage their osteoarthritis? A formative examination.

Community resources can influence health outcomes, yet little research has examined how older individuals use community resources for osteoarthritis (OA) management. Six focus groups were conducted with 37 community-dwelling older adult African Americans and Caucasians who self-reported OA and resided in Johnston County, North Carolina. Descriptive analyses and qualitative constant comparison methodology revealed individuals use local recreational facilities, senior centers, shopping centers, religious organizations, medical providers, pharmacies and their social network for OA management.

Coping with prescription medication costs: a cross-sectional look at strategies used and associations with the physical and psychosocial health of individuals with arthritis.

Background: Prescription medication costs increase financial burden, often leading individuals to engage in intentional nonadherence. Little is known about what specific medication cost-coping strategies individuals with arthritis employ.

Purpose: The purposes of this study are (1) to identify characteristics of individuals with arthritis who self-report prescription medication cost-coping strategies and (2) to examine the association between medication cost-coping strategies and health status.

The association of disability and pain with individual and community socioeconomic status in people with hip osteoarthritis.

Objective: To examine associations between disability and socioeconomic status (SES) in persons with hip radiographic OA (rOA) or symptomatic OA (sxOA) in the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project.

Methods: Cross-sectional analyses were conducted on individuals with hip rOA (708) or sxOA (251). rOA was defined as Kellgren-Lawrence ≥ 2.

Associations of educational attainment, occupation and community poverty with knee osteoarthritis in the Johnston County (North Carolina) osteoarthritis project.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine data from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis (OA) Project for independent associations of educational attainment, occupation and community poverty with tibiofemoral knee OA.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 3,591 individuals (66% Caucasian and 34% African American). Educational attainment (< 12 years or ≥12 years), occupation (non-managerial or not), and census block group household poverty rate (< 12%, 12 to 25%, > 25%) were examined separately and together in logistic models adjusting for covariates of age, gender, race, body mass index (BMI), smoking, knee injury and occupational activity score.

Racial/Ethnic differences in quality of life for people living with arthritis who see a primary care physician.

Objective: Previous research suggests that insufficient access to health care may contribute to health disparities in arthritis-related outcomes. The purpose of this article is to document whether racial disparities in health status, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and activity limitations exist for individuals living with arthritis who have access to a primary care physician.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey data were collected in 2005 and 2008 from individuals seeking care at 11 family practice clinics in North Carolina.

Methodological tips for overcoming formative evaluation challenges: the case of the Arthritis Foundation Walk With Ease program.

Formative evaluation is an effective first step in guiding program improvement by identifying participant preferences and yielding information pertinent to making program decisions. As program evaluators working with service providers are increasingly encouraged to adopt evidence-based health promotion programs, a discrete set of real-world recommendations may help extend the use of this methodology to respond to community-specific contexts and improve health impact. This article describes the authors' step-by-step process of conducting a formative evaluation of the Arthritis Foundation Walk With Ease (WWE) program.

Evaluation of group and self-directed formats of the Arthritis Foundation's Walk With Ease Program.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a revised 6-week walking program for adults with arthritis, Walk With Ease (WWE), delivered in 2 formats, instructor-led group or self-directed.

Methods: In an observational pre-post study design, 462 individuals with self-reported arthritis selected either a group format (n = 192) or a self-directed (n = 270) format. Performance and self-reported outcomes were assessed at baseline and at 6 weeks.

Independent and combined influence of homeownership, occupation, education, income, and community poverty on physical health in persons with arthritis.

Objective: To examine the independent and combined influence of individual- and community-level socioeconomic status (SES) measures on physical health status outcomes in people with self-reported arthritis.

Methods: From 2004-2005, 968 participants completed a telephone survey assessing health status, chronic conditions, community characteristics, and sociodemographic variables. Individual-level SES measures used included homeownership, occupation (professional or not), educational attainment (less than high school, high school degree, and more than high school), and income (<$15,000, $15,000-$45,000, and >$45,000).

Associations of perceived neighborhood environment on health status outcomes in persons with arthritis.

Objective: To examine the association between 4 aspects of perceived neighborhood environment (aesthetics, walkability, safety, and social cohesion) and health status outcomes in a cohort of North Carolinians with self-reported arthritis after adjustment for individual and neighborhood socioeconomic status covariates.

Methods: In a telephone survey, 696 participants self-reported ≥1 types of arthritis or rheumatic conditions. Outcomes measured were physical and mental functioning (Short Form 12 health survey version 2 physical component and mental component summary [MCS]), functional disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire), and depressive symptomatology (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale scores <16 versus ≥16).

Limited educational attainment and radiographic and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional analysis using data from the Johnston County (North Carolina) Osteoarthritis Project.

Introduction: Applying a cross-sectional analysis to a sample of 2,627 African-American and Caucasian adults aged > or = 45 years from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project, we studied the association between educational attainment and prevalence of radiographic knee osteoarthritis and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: Age- and race-adjusted associations between education and osteoarthritis outcomes were assessed by gender-stratified logistic regression models, with additional models adjusting for body mass index, knee injury, smoking, alcohol use, and occupational factors.

Results: In an analysis of all participants, low educational attainment (<12 years) was associated with higher prevalence of four knee osteoarthritis outcomes (unilateral and bilateral radiographic and symptomatic osteoarthritis).

Health-related quality of life in adults from 17 family practice clinics in North Carolina.

Introduction: We examined health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in white and African American patients based on their own and their community's socioeconomic status.

Methods: Participants were 4,565 adults recruited from 17 family physician practices in urban and rural areas of North Carolina. Education was used as a proxy for individual socioeconomic status, and the census block-group poverty level was used as a proxy for community socioeconomic status.

Perceptions of individual and community environmental influences on fruit and vegetable intake, North Carolina, 2004.

Introduction: Increases in obesity and other chronic conditions continue to fuel efforts for lifestyle behavior changes. However, many strategies do not address the impact of environment on lifestyle behaviors, particularly healthy dietary intake. This study explored the perceptions of environment on intake of fruits and vegetables in a cohort of 2,479 people recruited from 22 family practices in North Carolina.

Arthritis in the family practice setting: associations with education and community poverty.

Objective: To examine associations of self-reported arthritis in 25 urban and rural family practice clinics with education (individual socioeconomic status) and community poverty (community socioeconomic status).

Methods: A total of 7,770 patients at 25 family practice sites across North Carolina self-reported whether they had arthritis. Education was measured as less than a high school (HS) degree, a HS degree, and more than a HS degree.

Perceived barriers to physical activity among North Carolinians with arthritis: findings from a mixed-methodology approach.

Background: A goal of the North Carolina Arthritis Plan is to reduce arthritis burden through regular physical activity. We identified community and personal factors that influence physical activity in individuals with arthritis.

Methods: In 2004 and 2005, 2479 individuals (53% self-reported arthritis) from 22 North Carolina communities completed a telephone survey (59.

Modifications to the Active Living Every Day (ALED) course for adults with arthritis.

Introduction: Active Living Every Day (ALED) is a 20-week behavioral theory-based physical activity program originally developed for the general population; the purpose of our qualitative evaluation was to investigate whether the existing program is also appropriate (regarding safety, content, and instructor training) for sedentary adults with arthritis.

Methods: We conducted telephone interviews with 30 of 355 participants in a randomized control trial of the ALED program for sedentary adults with arthritis within 6 months after they completed the program. Interviewees, who attended at least 50% of program classes, were asked about the safety of program activities, the knowledge they gained from the program, how they felt about their program instructors, and any recommendations they had for how the program could be modified to better serve people with arthritis.

The People with Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE) program: a qualitative evaluation of participant satisfaction.

Introduction: Developed by the Arthritis Foundation, People with Arthritis Can Exercise is a community-based exercise program for individuals with arthritis. This qualitative study was designed to assess participant satisfaction with the program and examine motivators and barriers to attending program classes.

Methods: We conducted an 8-week randomized controlled trial of People with Arthritis Can Exercise among 347 participants residing in 18 urban and rural communities across North Carolina.