"I was considering surgery because I believed that was how it was treated": a qualitative study on willingness for joint surgery after completion of a digital management program for osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE

To explore, using a qualitative approach, reasons for patients' continued willingness or their shift in willingness for total joint replacement (TJR) surgery, following participation in Joint Academy, a Swedish, digital, non-surgical treatment program for osteoarthritis (OA).

DESIGN

Nineteen patients with hip or knee OA were interviewed after finishing their first 6 weeks in the treatment program, using a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a systematic text condensation method.

RESULTS

Analysis of the interview data revealed three main categories of reasons provided for the participants' decisions regarding surgery: 1) Various reasons for participating in Joint Academy with three sub-categories: (a) longstanding pain affects daily life, (b) last chance for improvement and (c) mandatory treatment to be eligible for total joint replacements (TJR); 2) Willingness for TJR following treatment, which included four sub-categories: (a) surgery - the last resort, (b) reduced pain and improved functioning, (c) no perceived improvements after treatment, and (d) trust in healthcare providers; and 3) Expectations of TJR. The shift in willingness towards or away from TJR was mainly due to the perceived success of Joint Academy in improving their functioning.

CONCLUSION

Several patients reconsidered their options and had changed their attitude to TJR after participation in a digital program aimed at reducing OA symptoms and improving functioning. These results highlight the importance of providing patients with adequate information about non-surgical management options to facilitate shared decision-making, and possibly reduce the need for surgery.