Abstract
BackgroundOptimal management of osteoarthritis requires active patient participation. Understanding patients’ perceived health information needs is important in order to optimize health service delivery and health outcomes in osteoarthritis. We aimed to review the existing literature regarding patients’ perceived health information needs for OA.MethodsA systematic scoping review was performed of publications in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO (1990–2016). Descriptive data regarding study design and methodology were extracted and risk of bias assessed. Aggregates of patients’ perceived needs of osteoarthritis health information were categorized.Results30 studies from 2876 were included: 16 qualitative, 11 quantitative and 3 mixed-methods studies. Three areas of perceived need emerged: (1) Need for clear communication: terms used were misunderstood or had unintended connotations. Patients wanted clear explanations. (2) Need for information from various sources: patients wanted accessible health professionals with specialist knowledge of arthritis. The Internet, whilst a source of information, was acknowledged to have dubious reliability. Print media, television, support groups, family and friends were utilised to fulfil diverse information needs. (3) Needs of information content: patients desired more information about diagnosis, prognosis, management and prevention.ConclusionsPatients desire more information regarding the diagnosis of osteoarthritis, its impact on daily life and its long-term prognosis. They want more information not only about pharmacological management options, but also non-pharmacological options to help them manage their symptoms. Also, patients wanted this information to be delivered in a clear manner from multiple sources of health information. To address these gaps, more effective communication strategies are required. The use of a variety of sources and modes of delivery may enable the provision of complementary material to provide information more successfully, resulting in better patient adherence to guidelines and improved health outcomes.
Highlights
Osteoarthritis(OA), the most common type of arthritis, affects approximately one in ten adults [1]
Patients desire more information regarding the diagnosis of osteoarthritis, its impact on daily life and its long-term prognosis
They want more information about pharmacological management options, and non-pharmacological options to help them manage their symptoms. Patients wanted this information to be delivered in a clear manner from multiple sources of health information
Summary
Osteoarthritis(OA), the most common type of arthritis, affects approximately one in ten adults [1]. To address the growing burden of OA, numerous guidelines for its management have been developed[5,6,7] These recommend non-pharmacological interventions such as exercise, weight loss, assistive devices, the provision of effective and individualised information, as well as, pharmacological treatments including simple analgesics and intra-articular corticosteroid injections. Despite consensus between the multiple guidelines, clinical practice does not adequately reflect the recommendations: approximately one third of individuals with OA fail to receive recommended care[8],[9]. This is further compounded by a sizeable proportion of patients with OA not participating in recommended self-care strategies[10]. We aimed to review the existing literature regarding patients’ perceived health information needs for OA
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