Findings suggest that multi-faceted experiences impact participation in activity following TJR. These experiences include changes in identity and lifestyle that preclude a 'return to normal'. There is an urgent need for supports to increase people's activity post-TJR in order to facilitate enhancement of post-surgery levels of engagement. Approaches that take into consideration more personalized interventions may be critical to promoting healthy aging in people with TJR.
Objective. To evaluate outcome expectations of patients undergoing revision total knee replacement (TKR) and to examine personal factors, patient functioning, previous experiences with knee replacement surgery, concerns about surgery, and general health as predictors of expectations. Methods. Revision TKR patients (n ؍ 184, 54% women; mean age 69 years) completed a questionnaire up to 2 weeks before surgery. This included demographics, experience with previous knee surgery, concerns about surgery, the Life Orientation Test (LOT), the Arthritis Helplessness Scale, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and a rating of overall health. Outcome expectations were evaluated as 5 questions assessing global benefit; relief of pain; ease of disability; expectations of having complications; and whether the person expected to be fully recovered from surgery in <6 months, 6 -12 months, >12 months, or did not expect to recover. Predictors of each of the 5 outcome expectations were evaluated using univariable and multivariable regression analyses. Results. Expectations are a multidimensional construct (Cronbach's ␣ ؍ 0.63). Expectation of global benefit of surgery was high, but was lower for benefits related to ease of pain and improved function. Concerns about surgery were a consistent predictor of all expectation outcomes in multivariable modeling. When concerns about surgery and general health were entered into the model as an interaction with expectation of recovery time as the outcome, past experience (P ؍ 0.05), pain (P ؍ 0.03), LOT (P ؍ 0.03), and interaction between concerns about surgery and general health were significant predictors. Conclusion. Clinicians need to understand and help patients shape appropriate expectations for recovery from revision TKR.
BackgroundPatient-centered care ideally considers patient preferences, values and needs. However, it is unclear if policies such as wait time strategies for hip and knee replacement surgery (TJR) are patient-centred as they focus on an isolated episode of care. This paper describes the accounts of people scheduled to undergo TJR, focusing on their experience of (OA) as a chronic disease that has considerable impact on their everyday lives.MethodsSemi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with participants scheduled to undergo TJR who were recruited from the practices of two orthopaedic surgeons. We first used maximum variation and then theoretical sampling based on age, sex and joint replaced. 33 participants (age 38-79 years; 17 female) were included in the analysis. 20 were scheduled for hip replacement and 13 for knee replacement. A constructivist approach to grounded theory guided sampling, data collection and analysis.ResultsWhile a specific hip or knee was the target for surgery, individuals experienced multiple-joint symptoms and comorbidities. Management of their health and daily lives was impacted by these combined experiences. Over time, they struggled to manage symptoms with varying degrees of access to and acceptance of pain medication, which was a source of constant concern. This was a multi-faceted issue with physicians reluctant to prescribe and many patients reluctant to take prescription pain medications due to their side effects.ConclusionsFor patients, TJR surgery is an acute intervention in the experience of chronic disease, OA and other comorbidities. While policy has focused on wait time as patient/surgeon decision for surgery to surgery date, the patient’s experience does not begin or end with surgery as they struggle to manage their pain. Our findings suggest that further work is needed to align the medical treatment of OA with the current policy emphasis on patient-centeredness. Patient-centred care may require a paradigm shift that is not always evident in current policy and strategies.
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