Themes patients focus on when selecting treatment for OA

Investigators of this study identified key themes, such as the characteristics of a treatment and the time and money investment required, which guide patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis when they decide on a treatment option.

by Monica Jaramillo, Healio September 5, 2016

Researchers in The Netherlands conducted both respective and prospective semi-stuctured in-depth interviews with 24 patients who had hip or knee osteoarthritis (OA). Investigators transcribed the interviews verbatim and then coded them with a thematic approach. The coding was then compared, discussed and adjusted by two independent researchers. With the thematic analysis, investigators determined key reasons for the patients’ choice of modality to treat OA.

The study participants discussed numerous treatment options which included medication, exercise, physical therapy, injections, surgery, complementary and alternative treatment. Based on the results, there were four themes investigators identified which aided in the choice of OA treatment: treatment characteristics, personal investment regarding time and money, personal characteristics, and support and advice from a patient’s social environment and health care providers.

“The findings of the current study will improve shared decision making by helping health care providers to address the core reasons that guide a patient’s choice,” the researchers wrote.

Source Healio

References

Reasons for Treatment Choices in Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis: A Qualitative Study, Selten EM, Vriezekolk JE, Geenen R, van der Laan WH, van der Meulen-Dilling RG, Nijhof MW, Schers HJ5, van den Ende CH. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016 Sep;68(9):1260-7. doi: 10.1002/acr.22841. Epub 2016 Jul 28.

Further reading

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Non-surgical care in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis is modestly consistent with a stepped care strategy after its implementation,Agnes J. Smink, Sita M.A. Bierma-Zeinstra, Henk J. Schers, Bart A. Swierstra, Joke H. Kortland, Johannes W.J. Bijlsma, Steven Teerenstra, Theo B. Voorn, Joost Dekker, Thea P.M. Vliet Vlieland, Cornelia H.M. van den Ende. The International Society for Quality in Health Care. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzu058 490-498 First published online: 20 May 2014

Health care use of patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee after implementation of a stepped-care strategy: an observational study, Smink AJ, Dekker J, Vliet Vlieland TP, Swierstra BA, Kortland JH, Bijlsma JW, Teerenstra S, Voorn TB, Bierma-Zeinstra SM, Schers HJ, van den Ende CH. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2014 Jun;66(6):817-27. doi: 10.1002/acr.22222.