Factors associated with patient activation in inflammatory arthritis: A multisite cross-sectional study

Jones, Bethan; Ndosi, Mwidimi; Hunt, Andrew; Harcourt, Diana; Dures, Emma

Abstract

Objectives Patient activation covers the skills, abilities and behaviour that impact how able and willing someone is to take an active role in self-managing their health. This study explored clinical and psychosocial factors associated with patient activation in rheumatology patients. Methods This was a cross-sectional study using postal survey methods. Participants with inflammatory rheumatic conditions were from six rheumatology centres in England. Patient activation was captured using the Patient Activation Measure (PAM). Twenty-nine explanatory factors were tested for potential association with patient activation in univariable and multivariable analyses. In preliminary multivariable analyses, factors found to have an association with patient activation at a P < 0.1 level were entered into the final multivariable model. Those that remained significant at a P < 0.05 level were considered associated with patient activation. Results The sample comprised 251 participants (74% female) with a mean age of 59.31 years (S.D. 12.69), disease duration of 14.48 years (S.D. 12.52) and a PAM score of 58.3 (S.D. 11.46). Of the 29 candidate factors, 25 were entered into a preliminary multivariable analysis. In the final multivariable analysis, four factors (self-efficacy, the illness belief that treatment will control participants' condition and two dimensions of health literacy) were significantly associated with patient activation. This final model accounted for 40.4% of the variance in PAM scores [F(4, 246)= 41.66, P < 0.001]. Conclusions Patient activation is important in managing rheumatic conditions. Our data confirm that self-efficacy and health literacy are particular targets for patient activation interventions.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 5, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 5, 2021
• Publication Date: Nov 5, 2021
• Deposit Date: Nov 13, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 16, 2021
• Journal: Rheumatology Advances in Practice
• Print ISSN: 2514-1775
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: Supplement_2
• Pages: ii35-ii44
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/rap/rkab053
• Keywords: Rheumatology
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/8060410
• Publisher URL: https://academic.oup.com/rheumap/article/5/Supplement_2/ii35/6421475