Introduction to OA, communication, and person-centered care

Osteoarthritis 2050 projections and its multiple mitigation challenges

“…[50][51][52][53] Prospective patients may not actually realize they have treatable osteoarthritis, may have poor health decision making ability even if they do, for example they may believe surgery is the only remedy for them, even though first line approaches have not been considered 54 and thus health status and outcomes may be more costly than not as a result of a failure to examine and account for health literacy challenges. 55 To solve this problem or at least attenuate it to some degree, the mandate for a system wide approach to overall health protection including public health messages pointing out osteoarthritis risk factors and early symptoms as well as opportunities for prevention and non invasive interventions may be helpful 42,56 in general, as well as in regards to reducing osteoarthritis inequities 57 and costs.…”