Sensor-based measures of knee brace adherence have low agreement with self-report methods: A multi-measure study among knee osteoarthritis patients
Authors' conclusion
This novel use of a temperature sensor to monitor brace adherence in knee osteoarthritis indicates that self-report adherence substantially overestimates knee brace wearing time
Study context
- Population
- Adults with symptomatic knee OA randomised to brace treatment in the PROP OA RCTof 237 randomised to brace
- Participants
- 60 adults
- Comparison
- Self-report questionnaires (SRQ) vs short message service (SMS) vs skin temperature sensor for knee brace wear time
- Primary endpoint
- Proportion meeting "minimum brace use" (≥1 h on ≥2 days in past week) by each method, and agreement between measures (percentage agreement and kappa)
- Follow-up
- 12 and 26 weeks
Methodological detailssingle-arm, multi-measure, concealed sensor, Presence and reason for the sensor concealed from participants
- Single-arm
- Multi-measure
- Concealed sensor
- Presence and reason for the sensor concealed from participants
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Proportion meeting "minimum brace use" · 12 weeks
Kappa
0.67
95% CI 0.34–1.00
SRQ vs SMS · 92% agreement
Kappa
0.35
95% CI 0.10–0.60
SRQ vs Temperature sensor · 74% agreement
Kappa
0.36
95% CI 0.05–0.66
SMS vs Temperature sensor · 76% agreement
Further findings
| Outcome | SRQ | SMS | Temperature sensor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proportion meeting "minimum brace use" · 26 weeks (SMS at 24 weeks) | 72% | 71% | |
| 24°C threshold | — not stated in the abstract | — not stated in the abstract | 43% |
| 25°C threshold | — not stated in the abstract | — not stated in the abstract | 37% |
— not stated in the abstract
Proportion meeting "minimum brace use" · 26 weeks (SMS at 24 weeks)
- Sensor data suggested sharpest decline in brace use within first 12 weeks
- Agreement between all measurement methods reduced at 26 weeks
Original publication
Sensor-based measures of knee brace adherence have low agreement with self-report methods: A multi-measure study among knee osteoarthritis patients. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. Published 13 July 2026. doi:10.
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