Improving functional status in arthritis: The effect of social support
Abstract
We present data from a longitudinal study of patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and/or hip. One component of this study involved interviewers telephoning patients bi-weekly for 6 months to inquire about stressors which they have experienced and to obtain self-assessment of their health. We hypothesized that telephone interviewers (TI) may provide OA patients with social support, and thus improve their functional status. Patients' functional status (physical disability, psychological disability, and pain) improved significantly after 6 months of receiving bi-weekly telephone calls. Since our outcome variables have been shown to be reliable measures of disability over time, and because OA is a progressively degenerative process, one would expect deterioration rather than improvement. Furthermore, since patients reported more social support at 6 months than at baseline, we attributed the improvement in health status to the TIs being viewed as a source of social support to elderly persons who may have support deficits. We suggest that future studies redefine TIs' roles from an unbiased data collector to a provider of social support. TIs should follow their own panel of patients so that continuity can be established. Furthermore, TIs should undergo training about OA, its treatment, common medications and their side effects, and other pertinent information. In this manner, social support may be further enhanced and provide the greatest potential to improve pa…
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In Weinberger et al.'s uncontrolled study, a 6-month series of biweekly telephone calls focused on a review of pain symptoms, medication, and educational information produced significant improvements in functional status that persisted up to 6 months after the calls ceased.
“In this uncontrolled study they found that a 6-month series of biweekly telephone calls focused on a review of pain symptoms, medication, and educational information produced significant improvements in functional status that persisted up to 6 months after the calls ceased.”
From Psychological aspects of persistent pain: Current state of the science (2004) · cites this paper as [148]
Weinberger et al. were among the first to explore the benefits of telephone-based interventions for patients with pain.
“were among the first to explore the benefits of telephone-based interventions for patients with pain.”
From Psychological aspects of persistent pain: Current state of the science (2004) · cites this paper as [148]
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Psychological aspects of persistent pain: Current state of the science
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- Authors
- Weinberger, M., Hiner, S. L., & Tierney, W. M.
- Affiliations
- Regenstrief Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Weinberger, Morris
- ORCID
- Tierney, William M.
- Venue
- Social Science & Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1986-01
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 899-904
- ISSN
- 0277-9536 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2054675061
- Cited by
- 80
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Social Science & Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5p60am020582-09)
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (R18 HS04080)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Aging, Health, and Disability
- Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
- Keywords
- osteoarthritis, social support, functional status, knee osteoarthritis, hip osteoarthritis, disability, pain, elderly patients, interviewer role, continuity of care, interviewer training
- MeSH terms
- Activities of Daily Living, Aged, Attitude to Health, Female, Hip Joint, Humans, Knee Joint, Life Change Events, Male, Middle Aged, Osteoarthritis, Pain, Social Environment, Social Support, Telephone
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