Knowledge and Associated Risk Factors of Knee Osteoarthritis among School Teachers at Assiut City

Khalaf, Shimaa A.; Mohamed, Aml Abd Elshafy; Aly, Himaa Elwardany

doi:10.21608/tsnj.2023.285665

Knowledge and Associated Risk Factors of Knee Osteoarthritis among School Teachers at Assiut City

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant professor of community health nursing, faculty of nursing, Assiut University, Egypt

² Lecturer of community health nursing, faculty of nursing, Assiut University, Egypt

10.21608/tsnj.2023.285665

Abstract

Background and aim: Knee osteoarthritis considered as a foremost cause of
disability globally, with a substantial societal impact and an increasing financial
burden on healthcare systems. School teachers estimated as one of the professions
with a high frequency of occupational musculoskeletal illnesses. The study aimed to
assess knowledge and associated risk factors of knee osteoarthritis among school
teachers. Subjects and Method: Descriptive cross-sectional design. Setting: Nine
schools representing 10% of the total Assiut City schools which selected randomly.
Sample: Total of 749 teachers. Study tools: Two tools were used; Tool (I): Five
parts; personal data, chronic diseases, data of knee pain, risk factors of knee
osteoarthritis and school teachers knowledge. Tool (II): Knee Injury and
Osteoarthritis Outcome Score scale. Results: It found that 42.6% aged 40 -< 50,
56.9% female and 80.2% were overweight and obese, 51.3% of teachers suffering
from knee pain and 70.2% had poor knowledge which affected by age, educational
level, residence and years of experience. As well as, pain and symptoms subscales of
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome were significantly linked with age, sex and
body mass index. Conclusion and recommendations: There were deficient of
knowledge about knee osteoarthritis. Furthermore, the most significant risk factors
were age, female sex, urban residence, body mass index more than or equal 25
(kg/m2), married status, presence of chronic diseases, education and family history. It
was recommended that health education program about knee osteoarthritis should be
provided for school teacher