Factors influencing health status in older people with knee osteoarthritis.

Aim: To examine a causal model of health status among older people with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: A cross‐sectional, correlational design was used with a convenience sample of 220 older Thai people with knee osteoarthritis (mean age 68.96 years; SD = 6.22). Participants were asked to complete a demographic questionnaire, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia, The Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey, and the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales 2‐Short Form. Structural Equation Model was used to examine a hypothesized model. Results: Using Chi‐square, hypothesized model was statistically nonsignificant. A model of health status fitted with the empirical data and explained 19.2% of variance. Pain catastrophizing had negative direct effect on self‐efficacy and health status. Pain catastrophizing also had negative indirect effect on health status through self‐efficacy. Self‐efficacy and social support had positive direct effects on health status. However, pain‐related fear had no direct or indirect effect on health status. Conclusion: Lower level of pain catastrophizing can improve self‐efficacy. Increasing of self‐efficacy and social support can then lead to improvement on health status. This study highlighted the effect of psychosocial factors on health status. It is necessary to develop a program to minimize pain catastrophizing, improve social support, and promote self‐efficacy to improve the health status of older people with knee osteoarthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]