Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Function and Physiotherapy, Department of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Scand J Prim Health Care. 2021 Jun;39(2):257-264. doi: 10.1080/02813432.2021.1922835. Epub 2021 Jul 5.
While education, exercise, and weight reduction when indicated, are recommended first-line treatments for knee osteoarthritis patients, they remain poorly implemented in favour of pain killer treatment, imaging and referral to surgery. A reason could be that patients are more satisfied with receiving these adjunctive treatment elements. This study aimed to investigate the associations between the received elements of care and the patient's satisfaction with the care for knee osteoarthritis in general practice.
Cross-sectional study.
A Danish general practice.
All consecutive patients ≥30 years of age who consulted the general practitioner (GP) with chronic knee complaints during 18 months and who replied to a mailed questionnaire ( = 136).
The questionnaire addressed patient's knee-related quality of life, and overall satisfaction with care, as well as reception of seven types of information, which are known quality indicators. Information on reception of adjunctive treatment elements was obtained from electronic medical records.
Patient satisfaction (versus neutrality/dissatisfaction) was positively associated with reception of information on: physical activity and exercise (relative risks [RR] 1.38, 95% bootstrap percentile interval [BPI] 1.02-4.33), and the relationship between weight and osteoarthritis (1.38, 1.01-4.41). No significant associations were found for the five remaining types of information and all the adjunctive treatment elements.
Providing information as education to patients with knee osteoarthritis as part of the treatment is positively associated with satisfaction with care.KEY POINTSGeneral practitioners worry about the doctor-patient relationship when addressing recommended lifestyle changes. However, this study revealed:•Patients in general practice with knee osteoarthritis are satisfied with care after having received information on lifestyle changes, such as exercise and the relationship between weight and osteoarthritis.•Patient satisfaction was not associated with the reception of adjunctive treatment elements for osteoarthritis.
尽管教育、锻炼和体重减轻（在有指征的情况下）被推荐为膝骨关节炎患者的一线治疗方法，但这些方法的实施效果仍然较差，而止痛药治疗、影像学检查和手术转诊更为常见。原因之一可能是患者对接受这些辅助治疗元素更为满意。本研究旨在调查所接受的治疗元素与患者对一般实践中膝骨关节炎护理的总体满意度之间的关联。
横断面研究。
丹麦的一家普通诊所。
在 18 个月期间因慢性膝关节疼痛咨询全科医生且回复邮寄问卷的所有年龄≥30 岁的连续患者（ = 136）。
问卷涉及患者的膝关节相关生活质量和对护理的总体满意度，以及对七种类型信息的接收情况，这些信息是已知的质量指标。关于辅助治疗元素的接收信息是从电子病历中获得的。
与中立/不满意相比，患者满意度（ = 满意）与以下信息的接收呈正相关：体力活动和锻炼（相对风险 [RR] 1.38，95%自举百分位区间 [BPI] 1.02-4.33），以及体重与骨关节炎之间的关系（1.38，1.01-4.41）。对于其余五种类型的信息和所有辅助治疗元素，均未发现显著关联。
作为治疗的一部分向膝骨关节炎患者提供信息，如教育，与对护理的满意度呈正相关。
全科医生在讨论推荐的生活方式改变时会担心医患关系。然而，本研究揭示：
接受生活方式改变信息（如锻炼和体重与骨关节炎的关系）的一般实践中患有膝骨关节炎的患者对护理感到满意。
患者满意度与骨关节炎的辅助治疗元素的接收无关。
