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

## TL;DR

This study examines digital readiness among people with hip or knee osteoarthritis and finds that factors like age, sex, and education influence their ability to use digital health tools.

## Contribution

The study identifies distinct digital readiness profiles and their associations with sociodemographic and health factors in OA patients.

## Key findings

- Three digital readiness profiles (low, intermediate, high) were identified among participants.
- Low digital readiness was associated with older age, female sex, lower education, and more comorbidities.
- Intermediate readiness was linked to less obesity and slower walking speed compared to the high readiness group.

## Abstract

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.

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.

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).

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.