Difficulties Experienced by Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis during the Conservative Treatment Process: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the difficulties faced by patients with knee osteoarthritis during the conservative treatment process. Materials and Methods: We included twenty-one patients who were diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis and admitted to the orthopedics and traumatology outpatient clinic of the hospital where the researcher worked between January 2022 and April 2022. We interviewed each patient using semi-structured face-to-face interviews. To analyze the interviews, the researcher used the directed content analysis method. Data were analyzed using the NVIVO 10 software package. The authors and the expert trained in qualitative research who generously supported the authors continued the analysis independently of each other until they reached a consensus. Results: After analysis of the interviews held with the participants, the following three main themes emerged: lack of information about conservative treatment, frequent change of physicians, and non-compliance with lifestyle changes. Two sub-themes were identified within the theme of frequent change of physicians: distrusting health personnel, and not being able to make an appointment. In addition, most of the patients were not knowledgeable enough about either the definition of the disease or the treatment process. These patients stated that they were confused because they had to change physicians frequently; thus, they distrusted physicians because each physician they visited made a different plan for the treatment process. Conclusions: At the end of the study, we determined that during the conservative treatment process of patients with knee osteoarthritis, a multidisciplinary approach should be adopted, and orthopedic surgeons, physical therapy and rehabilitation physicians, dietitians, and physiotherapists should be in harmony with the patient. In addition, health personnel should provide patients with detailed information to eliminate questions they have during the conservative treatment process. In order for healthcare team members to establish a trusting relationship between the patients, they should allocate enough time to the patient.