Montana Arthritis Program - Project Abstract Montana consistently has higher prevalence rates than nationally—28% (approximately 237,000) adults, aged 18 and older report having arthritis in 2021.1 The proportion of Montanans with arthritis is higher than the overall U.S. prevalence.1 Montanans with arthritis commonly report arthritis-attributable activity limitations. In 2021, more than 41% of MT adults with arthritis reported that their arthritis has limited them.1 Since 2012, the Montana Arthritis Program has successfully served as the lead agency implementing arthritis approved evidence-based interventions (AAEBIs) across Montana. To date, there have been over 14,000 participants that have enrolled in an AAEBI and almost 500 workshops offered. The Montana Arthritis Program has built, and will continue to sustain the infrastructure, and support a collaborative approach with existing and new partners to successfully implement and expand AAEBIs in Montana. During the 5-year project period, the Montana Arthritis Program will achieve state-level impact for all strategies and activities within Component A. Reaching a minimum of 7,500 Montana adults that will enroll in one or more of the selected AAEBIs. The Montana Arthritis Program will disseminate and expand the following AAEBIs: Walk with Ease group, Walk with Ease Self-Directed, Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL), and Tai Chi for Arthritis. The Montana Arthritis Program will target adults (aged 18 and older) that have arthritis with a focus on groups that are disproportionately impacted by arthritis, this includes adults aged 45 years or older, adults with lower household income, adults with disabilities, adults that live in rural areas, adults that do not participate in physical activity, obese adults, current smokers, and veterans.1 The Montana Arthritis Program will continue to work with both national and local partners to support statewide dissemination of AAEBIs, increase access and enrollment, raise awareness about the importance of physical activity counseling for arthritis management, reduce health disparities, and reduce inactivity among Montana adults with arthritis. The Montana Arthritis Program will collaborate with health care providers, health care provider associations, health care provider continuing education centers, and health systems to increase awareness of the need to counsel about physical activity for arthritis management. There will be a focus on enhancing AAEBI referral pathways, implementing strategies to support physical activity assessment, and implement statewide marketing campaign to ensure successful outreach. At the end of the project period, the Montana Arthritis Program will see an increase in AAEBI participation, increase in physical activity for Montana adults with arthritis through health care provider counseling—specifically in the underserved populations, reduced disparities in arthritis management, and increase the awareness of arthritis burden and management statewide.
