A patients’ view of OA: the Global Osteoarthritis Patient Perception Survey (GOAPPS), a pilot study

Abstract

Background: Globally, osteoarthritis (OA) is the third condition associated with disability. There is still poor treatment in OA but science holds the key to finding better treatments and a cure. It is essential to learn what’s important to patients from them to implement the most effective OA management. The OA Patients Task Force, conducted the Global OA Patient Perception Survey (GOAPPS)-the first global survey made by patients to analize the quality of life (QoL) & patient perceptions of care across countries. The goal was to collect data on OA patients' perception of OA to understand patients’ needs and expectations to improve OA management.Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study by online survey data collection from six countries, translated into three languages. The survey was comprised of 3 sections: patient demographics and clinical symptomology characteristics; relationship with physicians: perception of attention, treatment, and information provided; and OA impact on daily activity and QoL. The results of the survey were evaluated using the Limited Data Set. The survey results were analyzed using descriptive statistics to characterize the patients' answers. Additionally, Cronbach's alpha was calculated to determine internal consistency validity.Results. A total of 1512 surveys were completed in 6 countries. 84.2% of respondents reported pain/tenderness and 91.1% experienced limitations to physical activities. 42.3% of patients were not satisfied with their current OA treatment. 86% had comorbidities, especially hypertension, and obesity. 51.3% and 78% would like access to additional drug or additional non-drug/non-surgical treatments respectively. 48.2% of patients perceived their QoL to be affected by OA. The Cronbach's alpha was 0.61.Conclusions: OA has a significant impact on patients’ daily activities and their desire to play an active role in managing this disease. Patients are seeking additional treatments, especially no pharmacological/no surgical treatments stressing the need for investing in clinical research, implementing OA preventive measures, and managing interventions to improve the healthcare value chain in OA.

Giving an account of patients' experience: A qualitative study on the care process of hip and knee osteoarthritis

“…Nevertheless, oral medications, and in particular nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, have potential and well‐documented side‐effects, such as gastrointestinal toxicity, cardiovascular adverse effects and nephrotoxicity, 39 whereas exercise has been shown to have benefits that go beyond joint health, reducing the risk of developing a wide array of comorbidities and promoting a healthy lifestyle 40 . Moreover, evidence showed that individuals with OA are seeking non‐pharmacological and non‐surgical treatments for their conditions, and they want more information about these treatments, which highlights the likelihood that they might be open to undergoing exercise and physiotherapy interventions if educated on their benefits 41,42 . This was also retrieved in our interviews in which patients understood the importance of being active and saw exercise as a concrete support to their care, something that one can see while doing it, in contrast to medications and supplements that do not immediately show tangible effects.…”

Determinants of quality of life and hand function among people with hand osteoarthritis

“…10 QoL is defined as an individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns. 11 OA has a significant impact on patients' daily activities 12 and it is reported that people with hand OA have a clinically relevant lower physical health-related QoL 13 and significant impact on hand function. 14 Previous studies have evaluated the QoL in patients with OA in different joints 11,13 and how hand OA affects their hand functions.…”