Abstract
Objective
To evaluate the basic 8‐week People with Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE) program for improvements in primary (symptoms, functioning, level of physical activity) and secondary (psychosocial) outcomes.
Methods
A total of 346 individuals with self‐reported arthritis from 18 sites participated in a randomized controlled trial of PACE. Outcomes were measured at baseline and 8 weeks. The intervention group completed self‐reported assessments at 3 and 6 months. Two‐level multiple linear regression models were estimated to calculate adjusted outcome means in the intervention and control groups. A mixed‐effects repeated‐measures model was used to calculate adjusted means in the intervention group at 3 and 6 months. Both intent‐to‐treat (ITT) and as‐treated (AT) analyses were conducted.
Results
At 8 weeks, the intervention group had improvements in the following outcomes: 2 symptom outcomes (pain, fatigue) and 1 psychosocial outcome (self‐efficacy for managing arthritis) in the ITT analyses; 1 symptom outcome (pain), 1 function outcome (chair stands), and 1 psychosocial outcome (self‐efficacy for arthritis management) in the AT analyses. In addition, completers who attended ≥9 classes had improvements in 3 symptom outcomes (pain, fatigue, stiffness), 2 function outcomes (10‐pound lifts, chair stands), and 1 psychosocial outcome (self‐efficacy for arthritis management) at 8 weeks. Relative to baseline, PACE participants maintained significant improvements in symptoms at 6 months, but declined in function and self‐efficacy for exercise.
Conclusion
If adults with arthritis attend a majority of PACE classes, they may expect improvements in symptoms, self‐efficacy for arthritis management, and upper and lower extremity function. Achieving sustained improvement in outcomes may require continued participation in PACE.