Factors associated with pain catastrophizing in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE

To understand the current status and associated factors of pain catastrophizing in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

METHOD: Using the method of convenient sampling, 341 patients with knee osteoarthritis were recruited from 4 tertiary hospitals in Sichuan Province. From August 2023 to October 2024, data such as social demographic characteristics, Oxford Knee Score, and social support were collected through paper questionnaires.

RESULT: The results of this study showed that the pain catastrophizing score of patients with knee osteoarthritis was (33.70 ± 10.30). The intensity of pain during activity, Oxford knee score, anxiety, and social support (p < 0.05) jointly explained 44.1% of the variance in pain catastrophizing.

CONCLUSION

Patients with knee osteoarthritis have a high degree of pain catastrophizing. Clinical personnel should implement interventions in aspects such as social support for these patients to reduce the level of pain catastrophizing, optimize the pain trajectory, promote the rehabilitation process, and improve the quality of life.