Akinbo S R A, Sokunbi Oluwaleke, Ogunbameru T
College of Medicine University of Lagos.
Nig Q J Hosp Med. 2008 Apr-Jun;18(2):64-8. doi: 10.4314/nqjhm.v18i2.44982.
To investigate the possession and use of walking aids among patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), and to identify factors contributing to possession and actual use of these aids
A random sample of 90 patients with OA was derived from a database of 3,500 registered patients. A total of 80 (88.8%) patients with OA completed a questionnaire on possession and use of walking aids. Demographics, disease-related characteristics, and information about possession and use were assessed. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine which factors are associated with the possession and use of walking aids.
Sixty (75%) of the OA patients owned a walking aid. Canes, forearm crutches and walkers were most frequently possessed. Age, frequency of pain, and disability were associated with possessing a walking aid. Of the sixty patients that possess walking aid 25 (41.7%) of them are active walking aid users while the remaining 58.3% are non users. Factors associated with the actual use of an aid included higher age, a high intensity of pain, more disability, decrease in morning stiffness by the aid, and a positive evaluation of the aid
More than half of the patients with OA possess a walking aid. Disability, pain, and age-related impairments seem to determine the need for a walking aid. Nonuse is associated with less need, negative outcome, and negative evaluation of the walking
调查膝骨关节炎（OA）患者辅助行走工具的拥有和使用情况，并确定影响这些辅助工具拥有和实际使用的因素。
从3500名注册患者的数据库中随机抽取90名OA患者。共有80名（88.8%）OA患者完成了关于辅助行走工具拥有和使用情况的问卷调查。评估了人口统计学、疾病相关特征以及有关拥有和使用的信息。采用逻辑回归分析来确定哪些因素与辅助行走工具的拥有和使用相关。
60名（75%）OA患者拥有辅助行走工具。拐杖、前臂拐杖和助行器是最常拥有的。年龄、疼痛频率和残疾程度与拥有辅助行走工具相关。在拥有辅助行走工具的60名患者中，25名（41.7%）是辅助行走工具的积极使用者，其余58.3%为非使用者。与辅助工具实际使用相关的因素包括年龄较大、疼痛强度高、残疾程度更高、使用辅助工具后晨僵减轻以及对辅助工具的积极评价。
超过一半的OA患者拥有辅助行走工具。残疾、疼痛和与年龄相关的功能障碍似乎决定了对辅助行走工具的需求。不使用与需求较少、负面结果以及对辅助行走工具的负面评价有关。
