Adherence to Treatment in Egyptian Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis

2.3. interventional protocol (for intervention group only): For the Intervention group: A face-to-face semi-structured interview was carried out with each participant separately. The interview (30-45minuts) included a health education program explaining the nature of the condition(KOA causes, pathological changes, and natural course of the disease), we explained the recommendations for the treatment of KOA, teaching the patient a home exercise program of 5 exercises (targeting knee extensor and hip muscle ), selection of a physiotherapy program suitable to the patient clinical condition, recommendations to increase daily physical activity ( e.g. brisk walking) with joint protection measures along with a weight reduction regimen proposed in overweight and obese patients and prescribing a suitable pharmacological treatment to the patients mentioning side effect that might occur. At the end of the interview, each participant received a booklet including the recommendations for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis according to the ACR.

As for the control group, they were assigned the traditional approach for KOA management, they were told their diagnosis if they were not already familiar with it, received the treatment for KOA according to ACR guidelines, they were offered physical therapy modalities if their condition required but they were not given the health education program or the other interventional steps.

2.4. Follow-up period: Throughout the following three months after enrollment, participants were followed up every ten days; asking about persistence on the prescribed treatment and exercise program, the level of their daily activity, and their diet plan. For participants who failed to attend for any reason, a telephone call was performed to provide behavior change support in both groups. The telephone call aimed to observe adherence to treatment in the control group and to increase levels of participation in the intervention group.

Inclusion criteria

• diagnosed as having knee osteoarthritis according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with a

• A history of knee trauma or injury
• patients suffering from any other rheumatological diseases (e.g., Rheumatoid Arthritis)
• severe comorbidities, severe cardiovascular disease, heart failure, gastrointestinal bleeding risk, and chronic kidney disease.