The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #41702

Kareen Nour, GRIS, University of Montreal, University of Montreal, POBox 6128, Downtown Station, Montreal, QC H3C 3J7, 514-373-6187, nourkareen@hotmail.com, Sophie Laforest, Écologie Humaine et Sociale, Direction de la Santé Publique de Montréal-Centre, Régie Regionale de la santé et des services sociaux de Montréal Centre, 1301, Sherbrooke Est, Montreal, QC H2L 1M3, Canada, Monique A. Gignac, PhD, Scientist, Division of Outcomes & Population Health, The Toronto Western Research Institue, The University Health Network, University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst Street, Main Pavilion 10-328, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada, and Lise Gauvin, PhD, Department of social and preventive medicine, Université de Montréal, P.O. Box 6128, Downtown Station, Montréal, QC H3C 3J7, Canada.

Chronic pain among seniors with arthritis is an important public health issue. Research shows that health behaviors such as exercise can alleviate pain, yet little is known about their determinants. The purpose of this presentation is to describe health behaviors of seniors with arthritis and to examine their association with physical and psychosocial characteristics. Homebound seniors (n=105) diagnosed with osteoarthritis (61%) or rheumatoid arthritis (39%) and enrolled in a pain self-management program, were interviewed using standardized questionnaires. The sample included 97 women (mean age : 79 years, SD=9.5) and 8 men (mean age 72 years, SD=18.4). A majority of participants declared themselves financially comfortable (71.4 %) whereas 13.3% indicated that they were poor. Descriptive analyses showed that before the program all participants were engaging, on average, in 23% of leisure behaviors, 64% of adapted activities of daily living, 47% of exercise activities, and 14% of relaxation techniques. Regression analyses showed that lower involvement in: 1) leisure activities was predicted by lower income and a higher level of depression; 2) relaxation activities was predicted by higher income and a lower level of fatigue, pain and stiffness; 3) exercise activities was predicted by higher income and a higher level depression; 4) adapted activities of daily living was predicted by lower fatigue and a higher level of depression.

We conclude that the most consistent determinants of involvement in health behaviors among seniors with chronic pain caused by arthritis, are depression and socio-economic status.

Funded by Canadian Institutes for Health Research Grant # MOP42547

Learning Objectives:

• During this session, participants will acquire information regarding the spontaneously adopted health behaviors of home bound seniors with chronic pain caused by arthritis and the association between health behaviors such as exercise, relaxation, leisure, and daily adaptation routine and a series of physical and psychosocial characteristics. At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to list predictors that link health behaviors and individual physical and psychosocial characteristics in the specific population.

Keywords: Health Behavior, Frail Elderly

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.