Digital Readiness Among 3555 Individuals With Hip or Knee Osteoarthritis Initiating a Supervised Education and Exercise Therapy Programme: A Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION

Digital health can support exercise and symptom management in hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA), but uptake may depend on digital readiness (e.g., the capability) to use such tools. This study assessed digital readiness profiles in individuals with hip and/or knee OA initiating in-person physiotherapist-led GLA:D exercise and education and their associations with sociodemographic and health characteristics.

METHODS

Baseline GLA:D registry questionnaire data were analysed. The eHealth Readiness Scale measured digital readiness. Latent class analysis identified profiles, and multinomial logistic regression examined associations.

RESULTS

Among 3555 participants (mean age 66.7 years, 67% female), 53% reported confidence using the internet, 32% agreed that it improved efficiency, and only 26% agreed to use lifestyle tracking devices. Three profiles (low, intermediate, and high) were identified. Compared with the high profile, low readiness was associated with older age (odds ratio (OR) 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.71-2.24)), female sex (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.57-0.90), lower education (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.45-0.88), living alone (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.11-1.76), and more comorbidities (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.04-1.17). The intermediate profile showed similar trends but were also associated with less obesity (0.75, 95% CI 0.60-0.95) and lower walking speed (0.72, 95% CI 0.53-0.97).

CONCLUSIONS

Digital readiness profiles differed notably by age, sex, and education, underscoring the importance of readiness to enhance uptake and guide implementation and resource allocation of digital health in OA care. Future studies should address digital readiness improvement strategies.