Discussion
The present study confirmed that this sample experienced
moderate pain severity and pain interference, similar to the
findings from previous studies (Lee et al. 2010, Lin et al.
2011). Despite the fact that persons with RA generally had
more severe pain than those with OA, both groups experienced
a similar level of pain-related interference. Participants
reported multiple sites of pain. In particular,
individuals with RA were more likely to have multiple
joints involved in the whole body affected than those with
OA, which was in line with the differences in the disease
process between RA and OA (Jakobsson & Hallberg
2002). Consistent with prior research in Taiwan (Tsai et al.
2008), knees were most commonly reported as the most
painful sites, which may explain why walking was most
interfered. The greater interference with walking among
persons with OA might be due to the fact that knee OA
was the predominant type of OA in this sample.
Analysis of the distribution of the overall pain intensity
and interference was troubling. Among both RA and OA
patients, over 90% experienced moderate to severe pain
and over 85% experienced moderate to severe pain interference.
Although most participants were undergoing various
treatments or medications, finding revealed that current
pain control is unsatisfactory among arthritis patients who