Baseline characteristics of randomised participants
| Characteristic | Leaflet and advice (L and A) n=65 | Joint protection (JP) n=62 | Hand exercises (HEx) n=65 | Combined therapy (JP and HEx) n=65 | All randomised n=257 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic data | |||||
| Mean (SD): Age (years) | 67.2 (9.5) | 65.5 (8.6) | 64.5 (9.0) | 66.0 (9.3) | 65.8 (9.1) |
| Female | 40 (62) | 43 (69) | 41 (63) | 46 (71) | 170 (66) |
| Married | 44 (69) | 43 (71) | 36 (55) | 42 (65) | 165 (65) |
| Routine or manual occupation*† | 34 (52) | 24 (39) | 32 (49) | 31 (48) | 121 (47) |
| Currently working | 20 (31) | 18 (29) | 20 (31) | 18 (28) | 76 (30) |
| Mean (SD): Age when left school | 15 (1.1) | 16 (1.4) | 16 (1.2) | 15 (1.2) | 16 (1.2) |
| Left school to go to full-time education or university | 9 (14) | 13 (21) | 12 (19) | 7 (11) | 41 (16) |
| Gained qualifications through study as an adult | 25 (40) | 36 (60) | 36 (55) | 29 (45) | 126 (50) |
| General health and quality of life | |||||
| Body Mass Index ≥25.0 kg/m2 (overweight/obese)‡ | 39 (63) | 41 (71) | 48 (75) | 41 (65) | 169 (68) |
| Mean (SD): SF-12: Physical component (0–100)* | 39.7 (12.5) | 39.0 (10.4) | 41.9 (9.5) | 39.9 (10.1) | 40.1 (10.7) |
| Median (IQR): SF-12: Mental component (0–100)* | 52.2 (44.0, 58.0) | 55.5 (47.7, 60.0) | 50.5 (39.9, 57.7) | 56.4 (43.0, 60.5) | 53.4 (43.3, 59.2) |
| Clinical characteristics of hand problem | |||||
| Pain in both hands in last 12 months | 60 (92) | 52 (84) | 57 (88) | 56 (88) | 225 (88) |
| Median (IQR): Number of years with hand problem* | 5.0 (3.0, 10.0) | 4.0 (2.0, 8.0) | 5.0 (2.0, 10.0) | 5.0 (2.0, 10.0) | 5.0 (2.0, 10.0) |
| Mean (SD): AUSCAN—pain (0–20)* | 9.5 (4.0) | 10.2 (3.5) | 8.8 (3.3) | 9.4 (3.7) | 9.4 (3.6) |
| Mean (SD): AUSCAN—stiffness (0–4)* | 1.6 (1.0) | 1.5 (1.1) | 1.4 (1.0) | 1.5 (1.1) | 1.5 (1.0) |
| Mean (SD): AUSCAN—function (0–36)* | 14.5 (8.0) | 15.9 (7.9) | 13.8 (7.2) | 15.0 (7.3) | 14.8 (7.6) |
| Mean (SD): AUSCAN—total (0–12)* | 5.2 (2.2) | 5.3 (2.4) | 4.7 (1.9) | 5.0 (2.3) | 5.0 (2.2) |
| Mean (SD): Arthritis self-efficacy pain subscale (1–10)* | 4.8 (1.9) | 5.3 (1.7) | 5.2 (1.8) | 5.1 (1.6) | 5.1 (1.8) |
| Mean (SD): Hand pain severity on average last 3 days (0–10)* | 4.7 (2.2) | 5.2 (2.1) | 4.3 (1.8) | 4.4 (1.9) | 4.6 (2.0) |
| Mean (SD): Severity of main functional problem on average in the last 3 days (0–10)* | 4.9 (2.3) | 5.6 (2.5) | 4.7 (2.4) | 5.0 (2.3) | 5.0 (2.4) |
| Mean (SD): Satisfaction with hand function last 3 days (0–10)* | 4.6 (2.2) | 5.4 (2.5) | 4.6 (2.4) | 4.4 (2.0) | 4.8 (2.3) |
| Median (IQR): Grip strength (lbs)* | 35.0 (25.5, 47.5) | 31.8 (17.0, 47.5) | 31.0 (21.5, 51.0) | 33.5 (22.5, 48.5) | 33.5 (22.5, 47.5) |
| Mean (SD): Pinch strength (lbs)* | 8.8 (3.3) | 8.8 (3.8) | 9.0 (3.2) | 9.0 (3.3) | 8.9 (3.4) |
| Median (IQR): Grip ability test (seconds)* | 32.2 (26.8, 43.6) | 30.2 (24.9, 39.7) | 32.2 (26.6, 35.8) | 32.1 (27.2, 41.5) | 32.0 (26.5, 40.4) |
| ACR criteria met§ | 59 (91) | 56 (90) | 59 (91) | 56 (86) | 230 (90) |
| Unilateral or bilateral thumb OA¶ | 50 (77) | 52 (84) | 49 (75) | 59 (91) | 210 (82) |
Figures are numbers and percentages unless otherwise stated. Median (IQR) given for outcome measures with a skewed distribution. Total AUSCAN score calculated as (pain/5)+stiffness+(function/9).
*Data based on imputed data.
†Based on the ‘lower supervisory/technical’, ‘Semiroutine’ and ‘Routine’ groups of the UK Standard Occupation Classification (2000) for current or most recent paid employment.
‡Body Mass Index grouping defined according to the WHO.
§ACR criteria based on clinical features only (symptom frequency assessed prior to clinical assessment).
¶The eligibility criteria for thumb base OA were determined via examination of the hand joints for features of pain and/or tenderness on palpation and observation/palpation of deformity. This definition of thumb OA is in keeping with NICE recommendations for diagnosis of OA in UK Primary Care.18
ACR, American College of Rheumatology; AUSCAN, Australian/Canadian Hand Osteoarthritis Index; JP, joint protection; NICE, National Institute of Health and Care Excellence; OA, osteoarthritis; SF-12, Short Form Health Survey 12 (V.2).