Abstract
BackgroundPatients’ perceptions and beliefs of disease could be influenced by their lifestyle and culture. Although it is important to understand their perceptions and beliefs toward disease to prevent and manage osteoarthritis (OA) through conservative care, this topic has not been investigated in Japanese people with knee OA. Therefore, this qualitative study aims to clarify how Japanese patients with knee OA experience and perceive their symptoms and disabilities, and how they face them during conservative care.MethodsParticipants were recruited by purposive sampling. Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine patients (2 men and 7 women; mean age, 74.3 ± 5.5 years) with knee OA until data saturation was reached. Interview data comprised participants’ accounts of particular personal experiences of living with knee OA, including their perceptions and attitudes toward knee OA-related symptoms and disabilities. Two physiotherapists (one with extensive experience conducting qualitative studies) and four physiotherapy students conducted the interviews. Recorded interview data were transcribed verbatim in Japanese. Data analysis, including developing a coding scheme, was conducted based on a grounded theory approach.ResultsTwo core categories were extracted from the data: ‘Negative experiences’ and ‘Coping with difficulties’. ‘Negative experiences’ included three main categories: ‘Self-analysis on the cause of knee OA’, ‘Difficulties in daily life due to knee symptoms’, and ‘Psychological barrier’. ‘Coping with difficulties’ included three main categories: ‘How to deal with knee pain and difficulty in moving’, ‘Information considered useful to cope with knee OA’ and ‘Importance of connecting with others’. Japanese patients with knee OA desired evidence-based information and to connect with other people in the same situation to solve problems related to their condition.ConclusionsTo address patients’ concerns, medical professionals should conduct careful interviews and obtain information regarding patients’ past experiences, and understand their experiences related to knee OA. Symptoms and difficulties experienced by patients with knee OA should be managed by evidence-based information integrating their perceptions and beliefs toward knee OA.
Highlights
Please tell us if you remember the first time you noticed the symptom.Perceptions How did you feel when you were diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis?What are your thoughts on your current symptoms?Do you think this symptom will remain in the future? Why do you think so? Physical What was the most important physical concern when you were diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis?How is your knee condition now?Do you want to reduce pain further with surgery?Have you ever been happy with the pain?Is there any difference between pain in other areas and knee pain? LifeWhat was the most important concern in your life when you were diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis?How has knee osteoarthritis affected your daily life?Are you doing anything to mitigate those effects? Information
‘Coping with difficulties’ included three main categories: ‘How to deal with knee pain and difficulty in moving’, ‘Information considered useful to cope with knee OA’, and ‘Importance of connecting with others’
As a way of ‘Coping with difficulties’, participants found ‘How to deal with knee pain and difficulty in moving’ independently, and they had ‘Information considered useful to cope with knee OA’ and recognised the ‘Importance of connecting with others’
Summary
Please tell us if you remember the first time you noticed the symptom (or pain).Perceptions How did you feel when you were diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis?What are your thoughts on your current symptoms (or pain)?Do you think this symptom (or pain) will remain in the future? Why do you think so? Physical What was the most important (or first) physical concern when you were diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis?How is your knee condition now?Do you want to reduce pain further with surgery?Have you ever been happy with the pain?Is there any difference between pain in other areas and knee pain? LifeWhat was the most important (or first) concern in your life when you were diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis?How has knee osteoarthritis affected your daily life?Are you doing anything to mitigate those effects? Information. What was the most important (or first) concern in your life when you were diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis?. It is important to understand their perceptions and beliefs toward disease to prevent and manage osteoarthritis (OA) through conservative care, this topic has not been investigated in Japanese people with knee OA. This qualitative study aims to clarify how Japanese patients with knee OA experience and perceive their symptoms and disabilities, and how they face them during conservative care. Using the tools available to them, healthcare professionals must understand how patients perceive knee OA and the feasibility of self-management of symptoms, and understand patients’ information-related needs about knee OA [7]. A therapist’s inability to understand how patients perceive their situation is a key barrier to successful public health activities [9, 10]
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