Effect of self‐efficacy and physical activity goal achievement on arthritis pain and quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective. To examine physical activity and achievement of physical activity goals in relation to self-reported pain and quality of life among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. At baseline, 271 patients with RA were asked to specify a physical activity goal, and filled in questionnaires assessing physical activity, motivation, and self-efficacy for physical activity, arthritis pain, and quality of life. Six months later, patients indicated to what extent they had achieved their baseline physical activity goal and completed the same set of questionnaires. These data were used to construct multiple mediation models that placed physical activity and physical activity goal achievement as mediators between self-efficacy and motivation on one hand, and arthritis pain and quality of life on the other. Results. A total of 106 patients with RA completed both questionnaires. Self-efficacy at baseline predicted subsequent level of physical activity and achievement of physical activity goals. Goal achievement had a direct effect upon quality of life outcomes. Bootstrapping confidence intervals revealed indirect effects of self-efficacy upon arthritis pain and quality of life through goal achievement, but not through physical activity. Conclusion. Higher levels of self-efficacy for physical activity increase the likelihood that patients will achieve their physical activity goals. Achievement of physical activity goals seems to be related to lower self-reported arthritis pain, and higher levels of quality of life. In practice, clinicians can foster self-efficacy and goal achievement by assisting patients in setting realistic and attainable exercise goals, developing action plans, and by providing feedback on goal progress.

Characteristics of Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Turkey: Results From the Turkish League Against Rheumatism Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry

“…Furthermore, exercise has been shown to reduce pain and ESR in patients with RA. 29 The low rate of regular exercise taken by the population in our study suggests that patients need to be better educated on the importance of taking regular exercise.…”

What are the perceived barriers, facilitators and attitudes to exercise for women with rheumatoid arthritis? A qualitative study

“…Another issue regarding treatment is self-efficacy: people with RA and other ''long term'' conditions often have poor selfefficacy in regard to their treatment (and physical activity), especially if they are newly diagnosed with the illness or if the condition has an unpredictable disease course [36][37][38][39]. Exercise could improve self-efficacy for managing the condition by the process of empowering people and increasing their confidence in their ability to adopt new health behaviours: which has previously been linked to both pain and quality of life in people with long term conditions [37].…”

Psychological Factors Associated with Response to Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…Moreover, higher levels of self-efficacy for physical activity increase the probability that patients with RA will achieve their physical activity goals [114]. Finally, increasing self-efficacy beliefs is a common ingredient of cognitive-behavioral therapy and has proven effective [38].…”