Assessment of Family Functioning amongst Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis in Nigeria: A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability and reduced quality of life. The disability associated with OA depends on the cultural and socioeconomic context. Therefore, the role of family in the management of OA cannot be over emphasized. Objective: To determine the levels of family functioning and the predictors of poor family functioning amongst patients with knee OA. Method: A multicentre cross-sectional study involving 250 adults satisfying the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) clinical criteria for Knee OA were recruited over a period of 3 months after approval by the Ethical Review Committee of each of the study centres. Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtained relevant demographic and clinical information. Family functioning was assessed using Family APGAR (Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection, and Resolve) questionnaire. Other variables assessed were pain, functional class, Sleep Quality, depression and radiographs. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Binary logistic regression was used to determine predictors of family functioning. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean age was 59.9±10.62 and 209 (83.6%) were females. One hundred and ninety-nine (79.6%) reported a highly functional family, 40 (16.0%) and 11 (4.4%) had moderate and severely dysfunctional family respectively. APGAR scores were significantly associated with ethnicity (p=0.007) and functional class (p=0.020) and depression (p=0.013) and was best predicted by ethnicity (p=0.018, OR-1.360, CI [1.054 – 1.754]. Conclusion: Patients with knee OA seen in this study have a good level of family support. Ethnicity was the best predictor of dysfunctional family.