Factors predicting older adults' use of exercise and acetaminophen for osteoarthritis pain.

PURPOSE: To identify predictors of older adults' use of exercise and/or acetaminophen, and avoidance of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat their osteoarthritis pain.

DATA SOURCES: Data were analyzed from 457 adults aged 60 and older with moderate or greater osteoarthritis pain intensity who responded to the Brief Pain Inventory between 2006 and 2007. The following predictors were entered into a logistic regression to predict use of exercise and/or acetaminophen and nonuse of NSAIDs: age, gender, ethnicity, race, education, arthritis treatment by a practitioner, pain treatment by a practitioner, pain intensity, functional interference from the pain, and percent of pain relief from current treatments.

CONCLUSIONS: A total of 213 (46.6%) reported using exercise and/or acetaminophen and did not report using NSAIDs. Older adults reporting arthritis treatment by a practitioner were 2.2 (confidence interval 1.08-4.59) more likely to use recommended arthritis pain treatment, p < .03. Only 3-4% of the variance for use of recommended pain management treatment was explained by the predictors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Results underscore the importance of guidance by practitioners who are knowledgeable about safe osteoarthritis pain management for older adults.