Ab1556-HPR Psychosocial Characteristics by Stage of Thumb Basal Joint Osteoarthritis and Their Association With Hand Function

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease with a significant impact on hand function and quality of life. However, the psychosocial aspects at different stages of the disease remain understudied. Understanding the interplay between psychosocial factors and the stages of thumb basal joint OA is crucial for holistic, patient-centred care. Objectives: To investigate the psychosocial characteristics associated with different stages of thumb basal joint OA and their association with hand function. Methods: Ninety-five patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis were enrolled. Demographic information, Eaton-Littler stage, and patient-reported outcome measures, including the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (patient satisfaction subscore), Short Form-36 (mental health, general health perception, and vitality subscores), and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, were collected. Differences in psychosocial characteristics between Eaton-Littler stages were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The correlation between DASH score and psychosocial factors was examined using the Spearman correlation test. Results: There were 21 patients in stage 1, 40 patients in stage 2 and 34 patients in stage 3. The only significant difference between the stages was in general health perception (respectively: stage 2 < stage 1 < stage 3). The relationship between psychosocial factors and DASH is shown in Table 1. Vitality, patient satisfaction and mental health were found to be moderately to strongly correlated with hand function in all three stages. Conclusion: Psychosocial factors were found to be more associated with hand function in the early stages. These findings highlight the patient-centered treatment approaches from the early stages, emphasizing the importance of addressing not just physical symptoms but also the psychological. REFERENCES: NIL. Acknowledgements: NIL. Disclosure of Interests: None declared.