A pilot case-control study to design and test methods of obtaining reliable retrospective reports of shoe-wearing behaviour and other possible risk-factors for symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee in women
Ed Juszczak with Jill Dawson, Ray Fitzpatrick, Chris Dodd (Oxford) and Margaret Thorogood (London)
This pilot study had four aims:
1. To design and test methods of obtaining retrospective reports of shoe-wearing behaviour and details of other likely risk factors for osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) in women.
2. To test the developed methodology for reliability and validity wherever possible
3. To test the feasibility and acceptability of methods to recruit both cases and controls
4. To obtain information necessary to assist planning a future large-scale study
To achieve these aims the study examined the following questions:
1.The extent to which high heeled shoes (2 inches and above) have been worn by women now in the age-group (50-70) where OAK becomes highly prevalent
2. The accuracy of women’s assessments of the actual height of heels
3. Whether or not the presence of various foot problems could be used to validate self-reports of past high heel usage
4. The association between high heel wearing behaviour and other potential (or known) risk factors for OAK
5. Methods by which other potential (or known) risk factors for OAK might best be ascertained in women e.g. weight, occupational activities and exercise.
Of 127 women (31 cases, 96 controls) recruited and interviewed, 111 women (29 cases, 82 controls) were eligible for risk factor analyses.
Publications: 13, 53, 54
