On the waiting list for joint replacement for knee osteoarthritis : are first-line treatment recommendations implemented?

• Objective: To investigate to what extent individuals participated in guideline-based first-line treatments before being assigned to a wait list for knee replacement for osteoarthritis (OA), and to what extent they were recommended such treatments once on the list. Factors associated with participation in first-line management were also investigated.Design: All patients on the waiting list ≥ three months for knee replacement due to knee OA (n = 229) at a public hospital in Sweden were invited to participate in this cross-sectional survey study. 136 individuals (mean age 70 ± 9 years, 59% women) answered self-reported questionnaires including demographics, physical activity level, knee function and treatments before and during their time on the waiting list.Results: Before being referred to the waiting list, 40% had participated in guideline-based OA management (Better management of patients with OsteoArthritis (BOA)), 53% in physiotherapy, 67% in either BOA or physiotherapy whilst 23% of those overweight (BMI≥25) had received weight-management advice. Women had participated in BOA and physiotherapy twice as often as men (51% vs. 25%, p = 0.002 and 66% vs. 34%, p < 0.001) prior to waiting list referral. During their time on the waiting list, only 10% were recommended BOA, 30% physiotherapy and 15% weight-management. 38% of the patients that had never participated in BOA indicated that they were interested in participating while waiting for their knee replacement.Conclusion: Our results suggest that recommended treatment guidelines for OA may not be adequately implemented in Swedish health-care. Further exploration of implementation barriers and lack of equality of care appears warranted.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Ortopedi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Orthopaedics (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Sjukgymnastik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Physiotherapy (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Education

Exercise

First-line treatment

Implementation

Joint replacement

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis

Joint replacement

First-line treatment

Implementation

Exercise

Education

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)