Development of a decision aid to address racial disparities in utilization of knee replacement surgery

How Does Osteoarthritis Education Influence Knowledge, Beliefs, and Behavior in People With Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis? A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Our goal was to inform the design and implementation of osteoarthritis (OA) education for people with knee and hip OA. This review investigated the impact of OA education on knowledge, beliefs, and behavior and how and why these changes occur.

METHODS

Five databases-MEDLINE, Excerpta Medica Database (Embase), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Scopus, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro)-were searched in August 2023. Eligible studies were quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods, involving OA education interventions and assessing knowledge, beliefs, and/or behavioral outcomes. An interpretivist analytic process guided data evaluation, synthesis, and description of meta-themes.

RESULTS

Ninety-eight studies were included (80 quantitative, 12 qualitative, 6 mixed-methods). OA education was heterogeneous in content and delivery. Outcome measures varied, with poor distinction among knowledge, beliefs, and behavior constructs. Trends toward short-term knowledge improvement were observed, but there were no clear trends in beliefs or behavior change. Intrinsic factors (eg, pre-existing beliefs) and extrinsic factors (eg, socioeconomic factors) appeared to influence change. Three meta-themes described how and why changes may occur: (i) engagement: how individuals relate with education content and delivery; (ii) embodiment: the role of experiential factors in learning, and (iii) empowerment: the level of agency education generates.

CONCLUSION

Beyond the provision of information and instruction, OA education is a complex, relational process influenced by multidimensional factors. This review identifies potentially important strategies at individual, interpersonal, and community levels to support the design and delivery of engaging education that promotes holistic, embodied learning and facilitates meaningful, empowering change.

Impact of Racial/Ethnic Disparities on Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Cervical Spine Surgery: QOD Analysis

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of data from the cervical module of a National Spine Registry, the Quality Outcomes Database.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association of race and ethnicity with patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) at one year after cervical spine surgery.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Evidence suggests that Black individuals are 39% to 44% more likely to have postoperative complications and a prolonged length of stay after cervical spine surgery compared with Whites. The long-term recovery assessed with PROMs after cervical spine surgery among Black, Hispanic, and other non-Hispanic groups ( i.e . Asian) remains unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PROMs were used to assess disability (neck disability index) and neck/arm pain preoperatively and one-year postoperative. Primary outcomes were disability and pain, and not being satisfied from preoperative to 12 months after surgery. Multivariable logistic and proportional odds regression analyses were used to determine the association of racial/ethnic groups [Hispanic, non-Hispanic White (NHW), non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and non-Hispanic Asian (NHA)] with outcomes after covariate adjustment and to compute the odds of each racial/ethnic group achieving a minimal clinically important difference one-year postoperatively.

RESULTS

On average, the sample of 14,429 participants had significant reductions in pain and disability, and 87% were satisfied at one-year follow-up. Hispanic and NHB patients had higher odds of not being satisfied (40% and 80%) and having worse pain outcomes (30%-70%) compared with NHW. NHB had 50% higher odds of worse disability scores compared with NHW. NHA reported similar disability and neck pain outcomes compared with NHW.

CONCLUSIONS

Hispanic and NHB patients had worse patient-reported outcomes one year after cervical spine surgery compared with NHW individuals, even after adjusting for potential confounders, yet there was no difference in disability and neck pain outcomes reported for NHA patients. This study highlights the need to address inherent racial/ethnic disparities in recovery trajectories following cervical spine surgery.

OMERACT Core outcome measurement set for shared decision making in rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions: a scoping review to identify candidate instruments

OBJECTIVES

Shared decision making (SDM) is a central tenet in rheumatic and musculoskeletal care. The lack of standardization regarding SDM instruments and outcomes in clinical trials threatens the comparative effectiveness of interventions. The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) SDM Working Group is developing a Core Outcome Set for trials of SDM interventions in rheumatology and musculoskeletal health. The working group reached consensus on a Core Outcome Domain Set in 2020. The next step is to develop a Core Outcome Measurement Set through the OMERACT Filter 2.2.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review (PRISMA-ScR) to identify candidate instruments for the OMERACT Filter 2.2 We systematically reviewed five databases (Ovid MEDLINE®, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and Web of Science). An information specialist designed search strategies to identify all measurement instruments used in SDM studies in adults or children living with rheumatic or musculoskeletal diseases or their important others. Paired reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full text articles. We extracted characteristics of all candidate instruments (e.g., measured construct, measurement properties). We classified candidate instruments and summarized evidence gaps with an adapted version of the Summary of Measurement Properties (SOMP) table.

RESULTS

We found 14,464 citations, read 239 full text articles, and included 99 eligible studies. We identified 220 potential candidate instruments. The five most used measurement instruments were the Decisional Conflict Scale (traditional and low literacy versions) (n=38), the Hip/Knee-Decision Quality Instrument (n=20), the Decision Regret Scale (n=9), the Preparation for Decision Making Scale (n=8), and the CollaboRATE (n=8). Only 44 candidate instruments (20%) had any measurement properties reported by the included studies. Of these instruments, only 57% matched with at least one of the 7-criteria adapted SOMP table.

CONCLUSION

We identified 220 candidate instruments used in the SDM literature amongst people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. Our classification of instruments showed evidence gaps and inconsistent reporting of measurement properties. The next steps for the OMERACT SDM Working Group are to match candidate instruments with Core Domains, assess feasibility and review validation studies of measurement instruments in rheumatic diseases or other conditions. Development and validation of new instruments may be required for some Core Domains.

Variations in Treatment and Costs for Distal Radius Fractures in Patients Over 55 Years of Age: A Population-Based Study

Objective  To evaluate the rate of surgery for symptomatic malunion after nonoperatively treated distal radius fractures in patients aged 55 and above, and to secondarily report differences in demographics, geographical variation, and utilization costs of patients requiring subsequent malunion correction. Methods  We identified patients aged 55 and above who underwent nonoperative treatment for a distal radius fracture between 2007 and 2016 using the IBM MarketScan database. In the nonoperative cohort, we identified patients who underwent malunion correction between 3 months and 1 year after distal radius fracture. The primary outcome was rate of malunion correction. Multivariable logistic regression controlling for sex, region, and Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) was used. We also report patient demographics, geographical variation, and utilization cost. Results  The rate of subsequent malunion surgery after nonoperative treatment was 0.58%. The cohort undergoing malunion surgery was younger and had a lower ECI. For every 1-year increase in age, there was a 6.4% decrease in odds of undergoing surgery for malunion, controlling for sex, region, and ECI (odds ratio = 0.94 [0.93-0.95]; p  < 0.01). The southern United States had the highest percentage of patients initially managed operatively (30.7%), the Northeast had the lowest (22.0%). Patients who required a malunion procedure incurred higher costs compared with patients who did not ($7,272 ± 8,090 vs. $2,209 ± 5,940; p  < 0.01). Conclusion  The rate of surgery for symptomatic malunion after initial nonoperative treatment for distal radius fractures in patients aged 55 and above is low. As younger and healthier patients are more likely to undergo malunion correction with higher associated costs, surgeons may consider offering this cohort surgical treatment initially.

Operative management of rotator cuff tears: identifying disparities in access on a national level

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to identify nationwide disparities in the rates of operative management of rotator cuff tears based on race, ethnicity, insurance type, and socioeconomic status.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed with a full or partial rotator cuff tear from 2006 to 2014 were identified in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample database using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnosis codes. Bivariate analysis using chi-square tests and adjusted, multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate differences in the rates of operative vs. nonoperative management for rotator cuff tears.

RESULTS

This study included 46,167 patients. When compared with white patients, adjusted analysis showed that minority race and ethnicity were associated with lower rates of operative management for Black (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.29-0.33; P < .001), Hispanic (AOR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.45-0.52; P < .001), Asian or Pacific Islander (AOR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.61-0.84; P < .001), and Native American patients (AOR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.50-0.86; P = .002). In comparison to privately insured patients, our analysis also found that self-payers (AOR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.07-0.10; P < .001), Medicare beneficiaries (AOR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.72-0.81; P < .001), and Medicaid beneficiaries (AOR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30-0.36; P < .001) had lower odds of receiving surgical intervention. Additionally, relative to those in the bottom income quartile, patients in all other quartiles experienced nominally higher rates of operative repair; these differences were statistically significant for the second quartile (AOR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03-1.16; P = .004).

CONCLUSION

There are significant nationwide disparities in the likelihood of receiving operative management for rotator cuff tear patients of differing race/ethnicity, payer status, and socioeconomic status. Further investigation is needed to fully understand and address causes of these discrepancies to optimize care pathways.

Addressing chronic pain disparities between Black and White people: a narrative review of socio-ecological determinants

A 2019 review article modified the socio-ecological model to contextualize pain disparities among different ethnoracial groups; however, the broad scope of this 2019 review necessitates deeper socio-ecological inspection of pain within each ethnoracial group. In this narrative review, we expanded upon this 2019 article by adopting inclusion criteria that would capture a more nuanced spectrum of socio-ecological findings on chronic pain within the Black community. Our search yielded a large, rich body of literature composed of 174 articles that shed further socio-ecological light on how chronic pain within the Black community is influenced by implicit bias among providers, psychological and physical comorbidities, experiences of societal and institutional racism and biomedical distrust, and the interplay among these factors. Moving forward, research and public-policy development must carefully take into account these socio-ecological factors before scaling up pre-existing solutions with questionable benefit for the chronic pain needs of Black individuals.

Influence of Race on Utilization and Outcomes in Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that utilization and outcomes after shoulder arthroplasty vary by sociodemographic factors, highlighting disparities in care. This systematic review synthesized all available literature regarding the relationship between utilization and outcomes of shoulder arthroplasty and race/ethnicity.

METHODS

Studies were identified using PubMed, MEDLINE (through Ovid), and CINAHL databases. All English language studies of Level I through IV evidence that specifically evaluated utilization and/or outcomes of hemiarthroplasty, total shoulder arthroplasty, or reverse shoulder arthroplasty by race and/or ethnicity were included. Outcomes of interest included rates of utilization, readmission, reoperation, revision, and complications.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight studies met inclusion criteria. Since the 1990s, Black and Hispanic patients have demonstrated a lower utilization rate of shoulder arthroplasty compared with White patients. Although utilization has increased among all racial groups throughout the present decade, the rate of increase is greater for White patients. These differences persist in both low-volume and high-volume centers and are independent of insurance status. Compared with White patients, Black patients have a longer postoperative length of stay after shoulder arthroplasty, worse preoperative and postoperative range of motion, a higher likelihood of 90-day emergency department visits, and a higher rate of postoperative complications including venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, acute renal failure, and sepsis. Patient-reported outcomes, including the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon's score, did not differ between Black and White patients. Hispanics had a significantly lower revision risk compared with White patients. One-year mortality did not differ significantly between Asians, Black patients, White patients, and Hispanics.

CONCLUSION

Shoulder arthroplasty utilization and outcomes vary by race and ethnicity. These differences may be partly due to patient factors such as cultural beliefs, preoperative pathology, and access to care, as well as provider factors such as cultural competence and knowledge of health care disparities.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The development and utility of a multicriteria patient decision aid for people contemplating treatment for osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

There are a range of treatment options for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and hip, each with a unique profile of risks and benefits. Patient decision aids can help incorporate patient preferences in treatment decision-making. The aim of this study was to develop and test the utility of a patient decision aid for OA that was developed using a multicriteria decision analytic framework.

METHODS

People contemplating treatment for OA who had accessed the website myjointpain.org.au were invited to participate in the study by using the online patient decision aid. Two forms of the patient decision aid were created: A shorter form and a longer form, which allowed greater customization that was offered to respondents after they had completed the shorter form. Respondents also completed questions asking about their experience using the patient decision aid.

RESULTS

A total of 625 self-selected respondents completed the short-form and 180 completed the long-form. Across both forms, serious side effects, pain and function were rated as the most important treatment outcomes. Most respondents (64%) who completed the longer form reported that using the tool was a positive experience, 38% reported that using the tool had changed their mind and 48% said that using the tool would improve the quality of their decision-making.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the findings suggest that this patient decision aid may be of use to a substantial number of people in facilitating appropriate treatment decision-making.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Service users of myjointpain.org.au were involved through their participation in the study, and their feedback will guide the development of future iterations of the tool.

The role of digital health interventions to improve health literacy in surgical patients: a narrative review in arthroplasty

BACKGROUND

Arthroplasty is a high-volume but costly treatment option for advanced osteoarthritis. Health literacy and patient education are modifiable factors that can improve patient outcomes in arthroplasty. Digital technologies show potential as an instrument for providing patients with reliable information. This narrative review aimed to identify the current evidence for how effective digital health interventions (DHIs) are in targeting health literacy and related constructs (including knowledge, decision-making and self-efficacy) in arthroplasty.

METHODS

Six databases were searched for published studies comprising health literacy and related constructs, arthroplasty, and DHIs. The main outcome measure was health literacy. Two reviewer-authors independently screened studies according to predefined inclusion criteria and performed data extraction. Data was analysed and summarized in tabular and narrative form.

RESULTS

Two thousand seven-hundred and sixty-four titles and abstracts were screened. One hundred and sixty-seven papers underwent full-text analysis. No studies used health literacy as an outcome measure; therefore, the outcome measure was broadened to include its constructs, and the full-text analysis was repeated. Thirteen studies were included. No study following a structured design for their DHI. Eleven studies demonstrated participant improvement in constructs of health literacy, including knowledge, decision-making and self-management.

CONCLUSION

Current evidence suggests digital technology may provide new means of educating patients and improving aspects of their health literacy. More research digital technology with a structured approach, framework and standardized measures is required. Well-designed digital technology may become a useful adjunct to future patient care.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Imaging Workup and Treatment of Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

There is limited evidence on sociodemographic differences in osteoarthritis management, particularly in non-African American (AA) minorities. We sought to identify differences in imaging modalities, administration of intra-articular injections, and total joint arthroplasty (TJA) between racial/ethnic groups.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients presenting to outpatient clinics with a diagnosis of hip or knee osteoarthritis from January 2013 to March 2020 at a tertiary center. Univariate analyses compared differences between groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyses determined sociodemographic predictors of imaging workup and treatment.

RESULTS

In total, 105,873 patients were included. There were 74,769 (70.6%) Caucasian, 27,117 (25.6%) AA, 1,878 (1.8%) Hispanic, 1,479 (1.4%) Asian, and 630 (0.6%) Native American patients. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that AAs had decreased odds of undergoing a knee magnetic resonance imaging (odds ratio [OR] 0.77, P < .001) or injection (OR 0.94, P = .006). Asian patients had lower odds of receiving any hip X-ray (OR 0.72, P = .047) or knee injection (OR 0.83, P = .017). AA (total knee arthroplasty [TKA]: OR 0.51, P < .001; total hip arthroplasty [THA]: OR 0.57, P < .001), Hispanic (TKA: OR 0.69, P = .003; THA: OR 0.60, P = .006), and Asian (TKA: OR 0.73, P = .010; THA: OR 0.56, P = .010) patients had lower odds of undergoing TJA compared to Caucasians. We found that higher income quartiles had greater odds of receiving a magnetic resonance imaging and TJA, males had lower odds of receiving injections and greater odds of undergoing TJA, and Medicaid and self-pay patients had lower odds of undergoing TJA (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, we found disparities in the imaging, administration of injections, and/or arthroplasty for AA, Asian, and Hispanic patients. Insurance status, income, and gender were also associated with imaging and treatments performed in managing hip and knee osteoarthritis.

Race, Utilization, and Outcomes in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review on Health-Care Disparities

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that utilization and outcomes of total joint arthroplasty (TJA) are not equivalent across different patient cohorts. This systematic review was designed to evaluate the currently available evidence regarding the effect that patient race has, if any, on utilization and outcomes of lower-extremity arthroplasty in the United States.

METHODS

A literature search of the MEDLINE database was performed using keywords such as "disparities," "arthroplasty," "race," "joint replacement," "hip," "knee," "inequities," "inequalities," "health," and "outcomes" in all possible combinations. All English-language studies with a level of evidence of I through IV published over the last 20 years were considered for inclusion. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on the collected data.

RESULTS

A total of 82 articles were included. There was a significantly lower utilization rate of lower-extremity TJA among Black, Hispanic, and Asian patients compared with White patients (p < 0.05). Black and Hispanic patients had lower expectations regarding postoperative outcomes and their ability to participate in various activities after surgery, and they were less likely than White patients to be familiar with the arthroplasty procedure prior to presentation to the orthopaedic surgeon (p < 0.05). Black patients had increased risks of major complications, readmissions, revisions, and discharge to institutional care after TJA compared with White patients (p < 0.05). Hispanic patients had increased risks of complications (p < 0.05) and readmissions (p < 0.0001) after TJA compared with White patients. Black and Hispanic patients reached arthroplasty with poorer preoperative functional status, and all minority patients were more likely to undergo TJA at low-quality, low-volume hospitals compared with White patients (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review shows that lower-extremity arthroplasty utilization differs by racial/ethnic group, and that some of these differences may be partly explained by patient expectations, preferences, and cultural differences. This study also shows that outcomes after lower-extremity arthroplasty differ vastly by racial/ethnic group, and that some of these differences may be driven by differences in preoperative functional status and unequal access to care.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Patient Engagement Approaches in Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Review of Two Decades

Patient engagement is a comprehensive approach to health care where the physician inspires confidence in the patient to be involved in their own care. Most research studies of patient engagement in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) have come in the past 5 years (2015-2020), with no reviews investigating the different patient engagement methods in TJA. The primary purpose of this review is to examine patient engagement methods in TJA. The search identified 31 studies aimed at patient engagement methods in TJA. Based on our review, the conclusions therein strongly suggest that patient engagement methods in TJA demonstrate benefits throughout care delivery through tools focused on promoting involvement in decision making and accessible care delivery (eg, virtual rehabilitation, remote monitoring). Future work should understand the influence of social determinants on patient involvement in care, and overall cost (or savings) of engagement methods to patients and society.

Race and Insurance Status Association With Receiving Orthopedic Surgeon-Prescribed Foot Orthoses

BACKGROUND

This study looked at the effect of patient demographics, insurance status, education, and patient opinion on whether various orthotic footwear prescribed for a variety of diagnoses were received by the patient. The study also assessed the effect of the orthoses on relief of symptoms.

METHODS

Chart review documented patient demographics, diagnoses, and medical comorbidities. Eligible patients completed a survey either while in the clinic or by phone after their clinic visit.

RESULTS

Of the 382 patients prescribed orthoses, 235 (61.5%) received their orthoses; 186 (48.7%) filled out the survey. Race and whether or not the patient received the orthosis were found to be significant predictors of survey completion. Race, type of insurance, and amount of orthotic cost covered by insurance were significant predictors of whether or not patients received their prescribed orthoses. Type of orthosis, diabetes as a comorbidity, education, income, sex, and diagnosis were not significant predictors of whether the patient received the orthosis. Qualitative results from the survey revealed that among those receiving their orthoses, 87% experienced improvement in symptoms: 21% felt completely relieved, 66% felt better, 10% felt no different, and 3% felt worse.

CONCLUSION

We found that white patients had almost 3 times the odds of receiving prescribed orthoses as black patients, even after controlling for type of insurance, suggesting race to be the primary driver of discrepancies, raising the question of what can be done to address these inequalities. While large, systematic change will be necessary, some strategies can be employed by those working directly in patient care, such as informing primary care practices of their ability to see patients with limited insurance, limiting blanket refusal policies for government insurance, and educating office staff on how to efficiently work with Medicare and Medicaid.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, comparative study.

Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Disparities in Osteoarthritis Management

This article reviews the literature on racial and socioeconomic disparities in the management of osteoarthritis. Treatments investigated include arthritis education, dietary weight management, exercise/physical therapy, pharmacologic therapy with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and opioids, intra-articular steroid injections, and total joint replacement. The amount of evidence for each treatment modality varied, with the most evidence available for racial and socioeconomic disparities in total joint arthroplasty. Black patients, Hispanic patients, and patients with low socioeconomic status (SES) are less likely to undergo total joint replacement than white patients or patients with high SES, and generally have worse functional outcomes and more complications.

Racial Disparities in Rheumatology Through the Lens of Critical Race Theory

According to critical race theory (CRT), racism is ubiquitous in society. In the field of medicine, systems of racism are subtly interwoven with patient care, medical education, and medical research. Public health critical race praxis (PHCRP) is a tool that allows researchers to apply CRT to research. This article discusses the application of CRT and PHCRP to 3 race-related misconceptions in rheumatology: (1) giant cell arteritis is rare in non-White populations; (2) Black patients are less likely to undergo knee replacement because of patient preference; and (3) HLA-B*5801 screening should only be performed for patients of Asian descent.

Understanding the Role and Challenges of Patient Preferences in Disparities in Rheumatologic Disease Care

Evidence suggests patient preferences, including values and perspectives, have affected clinical outcomes, such as compliance, patient well-being, and satisfaction with care. A literature review was conducted with the purpose of exploring the tools used to elicit patients' treatment preferences and their roles in clinical outcomes. This review revealed racial differences in treatment preferences among patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The use of decision aids is a proactive intervention with potential for reducing race disparities and improving clinical outcomes. The utilization of patient preferences and values can improve outcomes by complementing the shared decision-making approach between patients and rheumatologists.

Stakeholder engagement in methodological research: Development of a clinical decision support tool

Introduction

Shared patient-clinician decision-making is central to choosing between medical treatments. Decision support tools can have an important role to play in these decisions. We developed a decision support tool for deciding between nonsurgical treatment and surgical total knee replacement for patients with severe knee osteoarthritis. The tool aims to provide likely outcomes of alternative treatments based on predictive models using patient-specific characteristics. To make those models relevant to patients with knee osteoarthritis and their clinicians, we involved patients, family members, patient advocates, clinicians, and researchers as stakeholders in creating the models.

Methods

Stakeholders were recruited through local arthritis research, advocacy, and clinical organizations. After being provided with brief methodological education sessions, stakeholder views were solicited through quarterly patient or clinician stakeholder panel meetings and incorporated into all aspects of the project.

Results

Participating in each aspect of the research from determining the outcomes of interest to providing input on the design of the user interface displaying outcome predications, 86% (12/14) of stakeholders remained engaged throughout the project. Stakeholder engagement ensured that the prediction models that form the basis of the Knee Osteoarthritis Mathematical Equipoise Tool and its user interface were relevant for patient-clinician shared decision-making.

Conclusions

Methodological research has the opportunity to benefit from stakeholder engagement by ensuring that the perspectives of those most impacted by the results are involved in study design and conduct. While additional planning and investments in maintaining stakeholder knowledge and trust may be needed, they are offset by the valuable insights gained.

Clinical and Statistical Validation of a Probabilistic Prediction Tool of Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcome

BACKGROUND

Predicting patients at risk of a poor outcome would be useful in patient selection for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Existing models to predict outcome have seen limited functional implementation. This study aims to validate a model and shared decision-making tool for both clinical utility and predictive accuracy.

METHODS

A Bayesian belief network statistical model was developed using data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative. A consecutive series of consultations for osteoarthritis before and after introduction of the tool was used to evaluate the clinical impact of the tool. A data audit of postoperative outcomes of TKA patients exposed to the tool was used to evaluate the accuracy of predictions.

RESULTS

The tool changed consultation outcomes and identified patients at risk of limited improvement. After introduction of the tool, patients booked for surgery reported worse Knee Osteoarthritis and Injury Outcome Score pain scores (difference, 15.2; P < .001) than those not booked, with no significant difference prior. There was a 27% chance of not improving if predicted at risk, and a 1.4% chance if predicted to improve. This gives a risk ratio of 19× (P < .001) for patients not improving if predicted at risk.

CONCLUSION

For a prediction tool to be clinically useful, it needs to provide a better understanding of the likely clinical outcome of an intervention than existed without its use when the clinical decisions are made. The tool presented here has the potential to direct patients to surgical or nonsurgical pathways on a patient-specific basis, ensuring patients who will benefit most from TKA surgery are selected.

The Usability and Feasibility of Conjoint Analysis to Elicit Preferences for Distal Radius Fractures in Patients 55 Years and Older

PURPOSE

Eliciting patient preferences is one part of the shared decision-making process-a process of decision making focused on the values and preferences of the patient. We evaluated the usability and feasibility of a point-of-care conjoint analysis tool for preference elicitation for shared decision making in the treatment of distal radius fractures in patients over the age of 55 years.

METHODS

Twenty-seven patients 55 years of age or older with a displaced distal radius fracture were recruited from a hand and upper extremity clinic. A conjoint analysis tool was created describing the attributes of care (eg, return of grip strength) of surgical and nonsurgical treatment. This tool was administered to patients to determine their preferences for the treatment attributes when choosing between surgical and nonsurgical treatment. Patients completed a System Usability Scale (SUS) to evaluate usability, and time to complete the tool was measured to evaluate feasibility.

RESULTS

Patients considered the conjoint analysis tool to be usable (SUS, 91.4; SD, 10.9). Mean time to complete the tool was 5.1 minutes (SD, 1.4 minutes). The most important attributes driving the decision for surgical treatment were return of grip strength at 1 year and time spent in a cast or brace. The most important attributes driving the decision for nonsurgical treatment were use of anesthesia during treatment and return of grip strength at 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

A point-of-care conjoint analysis tool for distal radius fractures in patients 55 years and older can be used to elicit patient preferences to inform the shared decision-making process. Further investigation evaluating the effect of preference elicitation on treatment choice, involvement in decision making, and patient-reported outcomes are needed.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

A conjoint analysis tool is a simple, structured process physicians can use during shared decision making to highlight trade-offs between treatment options and elicit patient preferences to inform treatment choices.

Duration of military service is associated with decision quality in Veterans considering total knee replacement: case series

Purpose

Due to the nature of military service, the patient–physician relationship in Veterans is unlike that seen in civilian life. The structure of the military is hypothesized to result in barriers to open patient–physician communication and patient participation in elective care decision-making. Decision quality is a measure of concordance between a chosen treatment and the aspects of medical care that matter most to an informed patient; high decision quality is synonymous with patient-centered care. While past research has examined how age and other demographic factors affect decision quality in Veterans, duration of military service, rank at discharge, and years since discharge have not been studied.

Patients and methods

We enrolled 25 Veterans with knee osteoarthritis at a VA hospital. Enrollees completed a survey with demographic, military service, and decision-making preference questions and the Hip-Knee Decision Quality Instrument (HK-DQI), which measures patients’ knowledge about their disease process, concordance of their treatment decision, and the considered elements in their decision-making process.

Results

The HK-DQI knowledge score had a significant, positive correlation with duration of military service (R²=0.36, p=0.004). Rank at discharge and years since discharge did not show a significant correlation with decision quality (p=0.500 and p=0.317, respectively). The concordance score did not show a statistically significant correlation with rank, duration of service, and years since discharge (p=0.640, p=0.486 and p=0.795, respectively). Additionally, decision process score was not significantly associated with rank, duration of military service, and years since discharge (p=0.380, p=0.885, and p=0.474, respectively).

Conclusion

Decision quality in Veterans considering treatment for knee osteoarthritis appears to be correlated positively with duration of military service. These findings may present an opportunity for identification of Veterans at most risk of low decision quality and customization of shared decision-making methods for Veterans by characteristics of military service.

The use of patient-specific equipoise to support shared decision-making for clinical care and enrollment into clinical trials

Background:

To enhance enrollment into randomized clinical trials (RCTs), we proposed electronic health record-based clinical decision support for patient–clinician shared decision-making about care and RCT enrollment, based on “mathematical equipoise.”

Objectives:

As an example, we created the Knee Osteoarthritis Mathematical Equipoise Tool (KOMET) to determine the presence of patient-specific equipoise between treatments for the choice between total knee replacement (TKR) and nonsurgical treatment of advanced knee osteoarthritis.

Methods:

With input from patients and clinicians about important pain and physical function treatment outcomes, we created a database from non-RCT sources of knee osteoarthritis outcomes. We then developed multivariable linear regression models that predict 1-year individual-patient knee pain and physical function outcomes for TKR and for nonsurgical treatment. These predictions allowed detecting mathematical equipoise between these two options for patients eligible for TKR. Decision support software was developed to graphically illustrate, for a given patient, the degree of overlap of pain and functional outcomes between the treatments and was pilot tested for usability, responsiveness, and as support for shared decision-making.

Results:

The KOMET predictive regression model for knee pain had four patient-specific variables, and an r² value of 0.32, and the model for physical functioning included six patient-specific variables, and an r² of 0.34. These models were incorporated into prototype KOMET decision support software and pilot tested in clinics, and were generally well received.

Conclusions:

Use of predictive models and mathematical equipoise may help discern patient-specific equipoise to support shared decision-making for selecting between alternative treatments and considering enrollment into an RCT.

Racial and sex disparities in utilization rates for shoulder arthroplasty in the United States disparities in shoulder arthroplasty

PURPOSE

To investigate racial disparities in shoulder arthroplasty (SA), accounting for demographic factors such as sex and age.

METHODS

Data for SAs (2011-2014) was queried from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Population-adjusted SA utilization rates, racial and sex differences by age, length of stay, insurer, and comorbidities were calculated.

RESULTS

Caucasians aged 45-64 are 54% more likely than African-Americans and 74% than Hispanics to receive surgery. For patients aged 65-84, the disparity is wider for African-Americans and narrower for Hispanics.

CONCLUSIONS

Policymakers and physicians should focus on further national efforts to alleviate healthcare disparities.

Racial and ethnic differences in the experience and treatment of noncancer pain

The burden of pain is unequal across racial and ethnic groups. In addition to racial and ethnic differences in the experience of pain, there are racial and ethnic disparities in the assessment and treatment of pain. In this article, we provide a nonexhaustive review of the biopsychosocial mechanistic factors contributing to racial and ethnic differences in both the experience and treatment of pain. Using a modified version of the Socioecological Model, we focus on patient-, provider- and system-level factors including coping, perceived bias and discrimination, patient preferences, expectations, patient/provider communication, treatment outcomes and healthcare access. In conclusion, we provide psychosocial factors influencing racial and ethnic differences in pain and highlight future research targets and possible solutions to reduce these disparities.

Racial-Ethnic Differences in Osteoarthritis Pain and Disability: A Meta-Analysis

Osteoarthritis (OA), a leading cause of disability and pain, affects 32.5 million Americans, producing tremendous economic burden. Although some findings suggest that racial/ethnic minorities experience increased OA pain severity, other studies have shown conflicting results. This meta-analysis examined differences in clinical pain severity between African Americans (AAs) and non-Hispanic whites with OA. Articles were initially identified between October 1 and 5, 2016, and updated May 30, 2018, using PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library Database. Eligibility included English-language peer-reviewed articles comparing clinical pain severity in adult black/AA and non-Hispanic white/Caucasian patients with OA. Nonduplicate article abstracts (N = 1,194) were screened by 4 reviewers, 224 articles underwent full-text review, and 61 articles reported effect sizes of pain severity stratified by race. Forest plots of the standard mean difference showed higher pain severity in AAs for studies using the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54-0.61) and non-Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index studies (0.35, 95% CI, 0.23-0.47). AAs also showed higher self-reported disability (0.38, 95% CI, 0.22-0.54) and poorer performance testing (-0.58, 95% CI, -0.72 to -0.44). Clinical pain severity and disability in OA is higher among AAs and future studies should explore the reasons for these differences to improve pain management. PERSPECTIVE: This meta-analysis shows that differences exist in clinical pain severity, functional limitations, and poor performance between AAs and non-Hispanic whites with OA. This research may lead to a better understanding of racial/ethnic differences in OA-related pain.

Current Concepts in Orthopaedic Care Disparities

Healthcare delivery is profoundly affected by race/ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic status. The effect of these factors on patient health and the quality of care received is being studied in more detail. Orthopaedic surgery over the past several years has paid increasing attention to these disparities as well. Not only do these disparities exist with regard to accessing care but also with regard to the quality of care received and postoperative outcomes. Total joint arthroplasty, hip fractures, and spine surgery represent areas where the effect of these factors has been reported. Not only is it essential for the clinician to understand the extent of care disparities but also the manner in which these disparities affect patient health and outcomes within the orthopaedic surgery setting. Strategies should be devised to minimize the effect of these factors on clinical care and patient health.

Does ethnicity and education influence preoperative disability and expectations in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty?

AIM

To investigate whether minority ethnicity and the duration of education influence preoperative disability and expectations in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.

METHODS

We prospectively included 829 patients undergoing primary unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) from April 2013 to December 2014 at a single centre. Patients filled in pre-operative questionnaires with information regarding place of birth, duration of education, expectations for outcome of surgery and baseline characteristics. Patients were stratified based on ethnicity. Majority ethnicity was defined as born in the study country and minority ethnicity was defined as born in any other country. Similarly, patients were stratified based on duration of education in groups defined as < 9 years, 9-12 years and > 12 years, respectively.

RESULTS

We found that 92.2% of patients were of majority ethnicity. We found that 24.5%, 44.8% and 30.8% of patients had an education of < 9 years, 9-12 years and > 12 years, respectively. The mean preoperative (pre-OP) oxford knee score (OKS) in the total population was 23.6. Patients of minority ethnicity had lower mean pre-OP OKS (18.6 vs 23.9, P < 0.001), higher pain levels (VAS 73.0 vs 58.7, P < 0.001), expected higher levels of post-OP pain (VAS 14.1 vs 6.1, P = 0.02) and of overall symptoms (VAS 16.6 vs 6.4, P = 0.006). Patients with > 12 years education had lower mean pre-OP OKS (21.5 vs 23.8 and 24.6, P < 0.001) and higher pre-OP VAS pain (65.4 vs 59.2 and 56.4, P < 0.001) compared to groups with shorter education. One year post-operative (post-OP) patients of minority ethnicity had lower mean OKS, higher pain and lower QoL. One year post-OP patients with > 12 years education reported higher pain compared to patients with shorter educations. However, the response-rate was low (44.6%), and therefore post-OP results were not considered to be significant.

CONCLUSION

Minority ethnicity and the duration of education influence preoperative disability and expectation in patients undergoing TKA. This should be taken into account when patients are advised pre-operatively.

A Preoperative Educational Video Improves Patient Satisfaction and Perceived Knowledge, but Not Patient Understanding for Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Randomized, Surgeon-Blinded Study

Background

The complexity of total joint arthroplasty warrants significant patient counseling, and some surgeons are utilizing multimedia to aid in preoperative education. Our aim was to assess the effect of an educational video on patient understanding and satisfaction when supplementing a traditional office consultation for total shoulder arthroplasty.

Methods

This study was a surgeon-blinded, randomized control trial involving 60 consecutive patients undergoing primary total shoulder arthroplasty. Following a preoperative consultation by a single surgeon, patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either a control or treatment group. All participants received a 9-question true-or-false test pertaining to basic shoulder arthroplasty knowledge. The treatment group subsequently viewed a 13-minute educational video explaining glenohumeral osteoarthritis, surgery, and postoperative expectations. At a second preoperative appointment, participants of both groups were asked to repeat the same test.

Results

Fifty-two patients were available for the second preoperative appointment. There was no difference in test scores between the video (7.84/9) and no video (7.89/9) groups ( P = .75). All patients in the video group reported improved satisfaction and understanding.

Conclusion

Patients who watched an educational video supplementing a preoperative consultation for shoulder arthroplasty reported improved satisfaction but did not demonstrate increased understanding compared to those receiving a standard preoperative consultation.

Sociodemographic and Clinical Correlates of Physical Therapy Utilization in Adults With Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

Physical therapy is essential for conservative management of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, physical therapy utilization data are limited for knee OA.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to identify correlates of physical therapy utilization among adults with symptomatic knee OA.

DESIGN

The design consisted of secondary analysis using baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of 350 adults with physician-diagnosed symptomatic knee OA.

METHODS

Patients completed baseline surveys regarding demographics, pain, function, medical history, and prior physical therapy utilization for symptomatic knee OA. Multivariable logistic regression identified correlates of physical therapy utilization, with models adjusted for body mass index and age. Interactions of race and sex with all other characteristics were evaluated.

RESULTS

One hundred and eighty-one patients (52%) reported prior physical therapy utilization. Factors independently associated with increased odds of physical therapy utilization were female sex (odds ratio [OR] = 3.06, 95% CI = 1.58-5.93), bachelor degree or higher degree (OR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.15-5.16), prior knee injury (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.08-3.19), and duration of knee OA symptoms (OR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.09-4.29 for >5-10 years; OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.10-4.04 for >10 years). Whites who had received a joint injection were >3 times as likely to have utilized physical therapy (OR = 3.69, 95% CI = 1.94-7.01); this relationship did not exist for non-whites who had received joint injections.

LIMITATIONS

A sample enrolled in an exercise study may limit generalizability. Self-report of physical therapy may misclassify utilization. It cannot be determined whether lack of utilization resulted from lack of referral or from patients choosing not to attend physical therapy.

CONCLUSION

Physical therapy is underutilized to manage symptomatic knee OA. Women and those with a bachelor degree or higher degree, prior knee injury, and longer duration of knee OA symptoms were more likely to have used therapy previously. Differences by race in the link between joint injection and physical therapy utilization may reflect a reduced likelihood of referral and decreased use of health interventions for symptomatic knee OA among non-whites, or both.

Military Service and Decision Quality in the Management of Knee Osteoarthritis

Background

Decision quality measures the degree to which care decisions are knowledge-based and value-aligned. Because military service emphasizes hierarchy, command, and mandates some healthcare decisions, military service may attenuate patient autonomy in healthcare decisions and lower decision quality. VA is the nation's largest provider of orthopedic care. We compared decision quality in a sample of VA and non-VA patients seeking care for knee osteoarthritis.

Methods

Our study sample consisted of patients newly referred to our orthopedic clinic for the management of knee osteoarthritis. None of the study patients were exposed to a knee osteoarthritis decision aid. Consenting patients were administered the Hip/Knee Decision Quality Instrument (HK-DQI). In addition, they were surveyed about decision-making preferences and demographics. We compared results to a non-VA cohort from our academic institution's arthroplasty database.

Results

The HK-DQI Knowledge Score was lower in the VA cohort (45%, SD = 22, n = 25) compared with the non-VA cohort (53%, SD = 21, n = 177) (p = 0.04). The Concordance Score was lower in the VA cohort (36%, SD = 49%) compared with the control cohort (70%, SD 46%) (p = 0.003). Non-VA patients were more likely to make a high-quality decision (p = 0.05). Non-VA patients were more likely to favor a shared decision-making process (p = 0.002).

Conclusions

Decision quality is lower in Veterans with knee osteoarthritis compared with civilians, placing them at risk for lower treatment satisfaction and possibly unwarranted surgical utilization. Our future work will examine if this difference is from conditioned military service behaviors or confounding demographic factors, and if conventional shared decision-making techniques will correct this deficiency.

Video-based patient decision aids: A scoping review

OBJECTIVE

This study reviews the published literature on the use of video-based decision aids (DA) for patients. The authors describe the areas of medicine in which video-based patient DA have been evaluated, the medical decisions targeted, their reported impact, in which countries studies are being conducted, and publication trends.

METHOD

The literature review was conducted systematically using Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsychInfo, and Pubmed databases from inception to 2016. References of identified studies were reviewed, and hand-searches of relevant journals were conducted.

RESULTS

488 studies were included and organized based on predefined study characteristics. The most common decisions addressed were cancer screening, risk reduction, advance care planning, and adherence to provider recommendations. Most studies had sample sizes of fewer than 300, and most were performed in the United States. Outcomes were generally reported as positive. This field of study was relatively unknown before 1990s but the number of studies published annually continues to increase.

CONCLUSION

Videos are largely positive interventions but there are significant remaining knowledge gaps including generalizability across populations.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Clinicians should consider incorporating video-based DA in their patient interactions. Future research should focus on less studied areas and the mechanisms underlying effective patient decision aids.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Total Knee Arthroplasty in the Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 2001-2013

OBJECTIVE

To examine black-white and Hispanic-white differences in total knee arthroplasty from 2001 to 2013 in a large cohort of patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system.

METHODS

Data were from the VA Musculoskeletal Disorders cohort, which includes data from electronic health records of more than 5.4 million veterans with musculoskeletal disorders diagnoses. We included white (non-Hispanic), black (non-Hispanic), and Hispanic (any race) veterans, age ≥50 years, with an OA diagnosis from 2001-2011 (n = 539,841). Veterans were followed from their first OA diagnosis until September 30, 2013. As a proxy for increased clinical severity, analyses were also conducted for a subsample restricted to those who saw an orthopedic or rheumatology specialist (n = 148,844). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to examine racial and ethnic differences in total knee arthroplasty by year of OA diagnosis, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, physical and mental diagnoses, and pain intensity scores.

RESULTS

We identified 12,087 total knee arthroplasty procedures in a sample of 473,170 white, 50,172 black, and 16,499 Hispanic veterans. In adjusted models examining black-white and Hispanic-white differences by year of OA diagnosis, total knee arthroplasty rates were lower for black than for white veterans diagnosed in all but 2 years. There were no Hispanic-white differences regardless of when diagnosis occurred. These patterns held in the specialty clinic subsample.

CONCLUSION

Black-white differences in total knee arthroplasty appear to be persistent in the VA, even after controlling for potential clinical confounders.

Current concepts of shared decision making in orthopedic surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The Shared Decision Making (SDM) model, a collaborative decision making process between the physician and patient to make an informed clinical decision that enhances the chance of treatment success as defined by each patient's preferences and values, has become a new and promising tool in the healthcare process; however, minimal data exists on its application in the orthopedic surgical specialty. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that this once novel idea can be implemented successfully in the orthopedic setting to improve patient outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

SDM can be applied without significant increases in the office length. Patients report that a physician that takes the time to listen to them is among the most important factors in their care. When time was focused on the SDM process, there was a direct correlation between the time spent with a patient and patient satisfaction. Patients exposed to a decision aid prior to surgery gained a greater knowledge from baseline to make a higher quality decision that was consistent with their values. Involving family members preoperatively can help all patients adhere to postoperative regimens. Exposing patients to a decision aid can reduce expensive elective surgeries, in favor of non-operative management. Incorporating patient goals into the decision-making process has increased satisfaction, compliance, and outcomes. SDM is a two-way exchange of information that attempts to correct the inequality of power between the patient and physician. Decision-aids are helpful tools that facilitate the decision-making process. Treatment decisions are consistent with patient preferences and values when there may be no "best" therapy. A good patient-physician relationship is essential during the process to reduce decisional conflict and increase overall patient outcomes.

Racial/Ethnic Disparity in Rates and Outcomes of Total Joint Arthroplasty

Racial/ethnic disparity in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has grown over the last two decades as studies have documented the widening gap between Blacks and Whites in TJA utilization rates despite the known benefits of TJA. Factors contributing to this disparity have been explored and include demographics, socioeconomic status, patient knowledge, patient preference, willingness to undergo TJA, patient expectation of post-arthroplasty outcome, religion/spirituality, and physician-patient interaction. Improvement in patient knowledge by effective physician-patient communication and other methods can possibly influence patient's perception of the procedure. Such interventions can provide patient-relevant data on benefits/risks and dispel myths related to benefits/risks of arthroplasty and possibly reduce this disparity. This review will summarize the literature on racial/ethnic disparity on TJA utilization and outcomes and the factors underlying this disparity.

A qualitative study of factors underlying decision making for joint replacement among African Americans and Latinos with osteoarthritis

To support patients in making decisions that align with their unique cultural beliefs, an understanding of factors underlying patient preferences is needed. We sought to identify psychosocial factors that influenced decision making among African-American and Hispanic patients referred for knee or hip arthroplasty. Thirty-six participants deciding on surgery were interviewed. Responses were audio-taped, transcribed, and read. Codes were assigned to the raw data and then clustered into categories that were analyzed to yield overarching themes. This process was repeated independently by two corroborators. Six categories described the mental calculations made in patients' decision-making processes: 1) self-assessment of fit for surgery based on age and comorbidity, 2) research and development of mental report cards of their surgeons, 3) reliving of social network experiences, 4) reliance on faith and spirituality for guidance, 5) acknowledgment of fear and anxiety, and 6) setting expectations for recovery. This study advanced the understanding of how decisions about joint replacement are constructed and identified cultural levers that can be targeted for intervention. Developing culturally tailored health information that addresses some of our findings and disseminating messages through social networks may reduce the underutilization of joint replacement among racial and ethnic minority populations.

Does a Patient-centered Educational Intervention Affect African-American Access to Knee Replacement? A Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND

A TKA is the most effective and cost-effective surgical option for moderate to severe osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Yet, black patients are less willing to undergo knee replacement surgery than white patients. Decision aids help people understand treatment options and consider the personal importance of possible benefits and harms of treatments, including TKA.

QUESTIONS/PURPOSES

We asked: (1) Does a patient-centered intervention consisting of a decision aid for knee OA and motivational interviewing improve the proportion of referrals of blacks with knee OA to orthopaedic surgery? (2) Does the intervention increase patients' willingness to undergo TKA?

METHODS

Adults who self-identified as black who were at least 50 years old with moderate to severe knee OA were enrolled from urban primary care clinics in a two-group randomized, controlled trial. A total of 1253 patients were screened for eligibility, and 760 were excluded for not meeting inclusion criteria, declining to participate, or other reasons. Four hundred ninety-three patients were randomized and completed the intervention; three had missing referral data at followup. The mean age of the patients was 61 years, and 51% were women. The majority had an annual household income less than USD 15,000. Participants in the treatment group were shown a decision-aid video and had a brief session with a trained counselor in motivational interviewing. Participants in the control group received an educational booklet about OA that did not mention joint replacement. The two groups had comparable demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. The primary outcome was referral to orthopaedic surgery 12 months after treatment exposure. Receipt of referral was defined as the receipt of a recommendation or prescription from a primary care provider for orthopaedic evaluation. The secondary outcome was change in patient willingness to undergo TKA based on patient self-report.

RESULTS

The odds of receiving a referral to orthopaedic surgery did not differ between the two study groups (36%, 90 of 253 of the control group; 32%, 76 of 240 of the treatment group; odds ratio [OR], 0.81; 95% CI, 0.56-1.18; p = 0.277). At 2 weeks followup, there was no difference between the treatment and the control groups in terms of increased willingness to consider TKA relative to baseline (34%, 67 of 200 patients in the treatment group; 33%, 68 of 208 patients in the control group; OR, 1.06; p = 0.779). At 12 months followup, the percent increase in willingness to undergo TKA still did not differ between patients in the treatment and control groups (29%, 49 of 174 in the treatment group; 27%, 51 of 191 in the control group; OR, 1.10; p = 0.679).

CONCLUSION

A combination decision aid and motivational interviewing strategy was no better than an educational pamphlet in improving patients' preferences toward joint replacement surgery for knee OA. The type of intervention treatment also did not affect access to surgical evaluation. Other tools that target patient knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes regarding surgical treatments for OA may be further developed and tested in the future.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level I, therapeutic study.

Developing and Evaluating a Clinic-Based Decision Aid Delivery System

Background: Despite evidence of their benefits, decision aids (DAs) have not been widely adopted in clinical practice. Quality improvement methods could help embed DA delivery into primary care workflows and facilitate DA delivery and uptake, defined as reading or watching DA materials. Objectives: 1) Work with clinic staff and providers to develop and test multiple processes for DA delivery; 2) implement a systems approach to measuring delivery and uptake; 3) compare uptake and patient satisfaction across delivery models. Methods: We employed a microsystems approach to implement three DA delivery models into primary care processes and workflows: within existing disease management programs, by physician request, and by mail. We developed a database and tracking tools linked to our electronic health record and designed clinic-based processes to measure uptake and satisfaction. Results: A total of 1144 DAs were delivered. Depending on delivery method, 51% to 73% of patients returned to the clinic within 6 months. Nurses asked 67% to 75% of this group follow-up questions, and 65% to 79% recalled receiving the DA. Among them, uptake was 23% to 27%. Satisfaction among patients who recalled receiving the DA was high. Eighty-two to 93% of patients reported that they liked receiving this patient education information, and 82% to 91% reported that receiving patient education information like this is useful to them. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the realities of clinical practice. One fourth to one third of patients did not return for a follow-up visit. Although nurses were able to assess uptake in the course of their usual duties, the results did not achieve the standards typically expected of clinical research. Despite these limitations, uptake, though modest, was similar across delivery methods, suggesting that there are multiple strategies for implementing DAs in clinical practice.

Facing the decision about the treatment of hip or knee osteoarthritis: What are patients' needs?

PURPOSE

There is an increasing interest in modern orthopaedic practice to empower patients to participate in shared decision-making. Decision aids are thought to be helpful in this process. Before creating decision aids for patients with osteoarthritis in the knee or hip, the goal was to identify the needs of patients and physicians when deciding about the treatment. Specifically, this study tested the null hypothesis that there is no significant difference in decisional conflict between patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis and orthopaedic surgeons.

METHODS

Thirty-three orthopaedic surgeons and 172 patients with either knee or hip osteoarthritis were surveyed. Patients entered their demographic information and completed the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score/Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, the Assessment of Needs survey based on the Ottawa Decision Support Framework, the Decisional Conflict Scale, the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire, the Patient-Doctor Relationship Questionnaire-9, the Pain Anxiety Symptoms Scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire. Physicians entered their demographic and professional information and completed the Assessment of Needs survey based on the Ottawa Decision Support Framework and the Decisional Conflict Scale.

RESULTS

The results showed that there was a significant difference (P < 0.01) between patients [mean (SD), 33 (19)] and physicians [mean (SD), 24 (14)], regarding decisional conflict about the treatment of knee and hip osteoarthritis. It also showed that patients' decisional conflict was associated with the patient-doctor relationship, and there was a need for information and clearness of one's values for risks and benefits.

CONCLUSION

Patients had a higher magnitude of decisional conflict than physicians and that the level of decisional conflict was positively influenced by the patient-doctor relationship. Patients had high needs regarding information and clearness of one's values for risks and benefits.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

II.

Patients' expectations about total knee arthroplasty outcomes

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to ascertain Patients' pre-operative expectations of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) recovery.

METHODS

Two hundred and thirty-six patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who underwent TKA completed self-administered questionnaires before their surgery. Patients' expectations of time to functional recovery were measured using an ordinal time-response scale to indicate expected time to recovery for each of 10 functional activities. Expected time to recovery was dichotomized into short- and long-term expectations for recovery of each activity using median responses. Knee pain and function were ascertained using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Other measures included the SF-36, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) and the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS). Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify pre-operative characteristics associated with short- vs. long-term expectations.

RESULTS

Sixty-five percent of the patients were females and 70% Whites; mean age was 65 years. Patients were optimistic about their time to functional recovery: over 65% of patients expected functional recovery within 3 months. Over 80% of the patients expected to perform 8 of the 10 activities within 3 months. Patients who expected to be able to perform the functional activities in <6 weeks were more likely to be younger, male, and have lower self-reported pain and better general health before surgery compared to those who expected to be able to perform the activities 3 months post-surgery or later.

CONCLUSION

Pre-operative patient characteristics may be important to evaluate when considering individual Patients' expectations of post-operative outcomes.

Patient-mediated knowledge translation (PKT) interventions for clinical encounters: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Patient-mediated knowledge translation (PKT) interventions engage patients in their own health care. Insight on which PKT interventions are effective is lacking. We sought to describe the type and impact of PKT interventions.

METHODS

We performed a systematic review of PKT interventions, defined as strategies that inform, educate and engage patients in their own health care. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library from 2005 to 2014 for English language studies that evaluated PKT interventions delivered immediately before, during or upon conclusion of clinical encounters to individual patients with arthritis or cancer. Data were extracted on study characteristics, PKT intervention (theory, content, delivery, duration, personnel, timing) and outcomes. Interventions were characterized by type of patient engagement (inform, activate, collaborate). We performed content analysis and reported summary statistics.

RESULTS

Of 694 retrieved studies, 16 were deemed eligible (5 arthritis, 11 cancer; 12 RCTs, 4 cohort studies; 7 low, 3 uncertain, 6 high risk of bias). PKT interventions included print material in 10 studies (brochures, booklets, variety of print material, list of websites), electronic material in 10 studies (video, computer program, website) and counselling in 2 studies. They were offered before, during and after consultation in 4, 1 and 4 studies, respectively; as single or multifaceted interventions in 10 and 6 studies, respectively; and by clinicians, health educators, researchers or volunteers in 4, 3, 5 and 1 study, respectively. Most interventions informed or activated patients. All studies achieved positive impact in one or more measures of patient knowledge, decision-making, communication and behaviour. This was true regardless of condition, PKT intervention, timing, personnel, type of engagement or delivery (single or multifaceted). No studies assessed patient harms, or interventions for providers to support PKT intervention delivery. Two studies evaluated the impact on providers of PKT interventions aimed at patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Single interventions involving print material achieved beneficial outcomes as did more complex interventions. Few studies were eligible, and no studies evaluated patient harms, or provider outcomes. Further research is warranted to evaluate these PKT interventions in more patients, or patients with different conditions; different types of PKT interventions for patients and for providers; and potential harms associated with interventions.

Patients or Volunteers? The Impact of Motivation for Trial Participation on the Efficacy of Patient Decision Aids: A Secondary Analysis of a Cochrane Systematic Review

Background. Efficacy of patient decision aids (PtDAs) may be influenced by trial participants’ identity either as patients seeking to benefit personally from involvement or as volunteers supporting the research effort. Aim. To determine if study characteristics indicative of participants’ trial identity might influence PtDA efficacy. Methods. We undertook exploratory subgroup meta-analysis of the 2011 Cochrane review of PtDAs, including trials that compared PtDA with usual care for treatment decisions. We extracted data on whether participants initiated the care pathway, setting, practitioner interactions, and 6 outcome variables (knowledge, risk perception, decisional conflict, feeling informed, feeling clear about values, and participation). The main subgroup analysis categorized trials as “volunteerism” or “patienthood” on the basis of whether participants initiated the care pathway. A supplementary subgroup analysis categorized trials on the basis of whether any volunteerism factors were present (participants had not initiated the care pathway, had attended a research setting, or had a face-to-face interaction with a researcher). Results. Twenty-nine trials were included. Compared with volunteerism trials, pooled effect sizes were higher in patienthood trials (where participants initiated the care pathway) for knowledge, decisional conflict, feeling informed, feeling clear, and participation. The subgroup difference was statistically significant for knowledge only ( P = 0.03). When trials were compared on the basis of whether volunteerism factors were present, knowledge was significantly greater in patienthood trials ( P < 0.001), but there was otherwise no consistent pattern of differences in effects across outcomes. Conclusions. There is a tendency toward greater PtDA efficacy in trials in which participants initiate the pathway of care. Knowledge acquisition appears to be greater in trials where participants are predominantly patients rather than volunteers.

Reducing gender disparities in post-total knee arthroplasty expectations through a decision aid

BACKGROUND

Gender disparities in total knee arthroplasty utilization may be due to differences in perceptions and expectations about total knee arthroplasty outcomes. This study evaluates the impact of a decision aid on perceptions about total knee arthroplasty and decision-making parameters among patients with knee osteoarthritis.

METHODS

Patients with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis viewed a video about knee osteoarthritis treatments options, including total knee arthroplasty, and received a personalized arthritis report. An adapted version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index was used to assess pain and physical function expectations following total knee arthroplasty before/after the intervention. These scores were compared to an age- and gender-adjusted means for a cohort of patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty. Decision readiness and conflict were also measured.

RESULTS

At baseline, both men and women had poorer expectations about post-operative pain and physical outcomes compared with observed outcomes of the comparator group. Following the intervention, women's mean age-adjusted expectations about post- total knee arthroplasty pain outcomes improved (Pre: 27.0; Post: 21.8 [p =0.08; 95% CI -0.7, 11.0]) and were closer to observed post-TKA outcomes; whereas men did not have a significant change in their pain expectations (Pre: 21.3; Post: 19.6 [p = 0.6; 95% CI -5.8, 9.4]). Women also demonstrated a significant improvement in decision readiness; whereas men did not. Both genders had less decision conflict after the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

Both women and men with osteoarthritis had poor estimates of total knee arthroplasty outcomes. Women responded to the intervention with more accurate total knee arthroplasty outcome expectations and greater decision readiness. Improving patient knowledge of total knee arthroplasty through a decision aid may improve medical decision-making and reduce gender disparities in total knee arthroplasty utilization.

Effects of an educational audiovisual videodisc on patients' pre-operative expectations with total knee arthroplasty: a prospective randomized comparative study

PURPOSE

To investigate the effectiveness of an educational videodisc in modifying pre-operative patients' expectations with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and to find a biophysical profile of subjects in whom this videodisc could be most effective. It was hypothesized that patients receiving standard information plus additional medical information through audiovisual videodiscs would modify their pre-operative expectations more than those only receiving the standard information through medical interviews.

METHODS

Ninety-two patients (age, 50-90 years) with knee osteoarthritis waiting for TKA were randomized into two groups. All patients received general verbal information about this procedure. Forty-two patients (study group) additionally viewed an educational videodisc related to the whole process of TKA, whereas 50 patients did not view it (control group). Patients completed baseline and post-videodisc questionnaires regarding their expected results after TKA.

RESULTS

Expectations with TKA were not modified by the audiovisual videodisc, except for knee range of motion and use of stairs. There were no differences in change of expectations between groups depending on demographic, functional, health, emotional, and cognitive variables, except for body mass index. The overall pre-operative, pre-intervention expectations were not modified by the audiovisual videodisc.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these results, the use of this complementary tool may not be systematically recommended. In addition, it was not possible to identify a biophysical profile of patients in whom the intervention could be most effective.

Factors associated with the quality of patients' surgical decisions for treatment of hip and knee osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND

Shared decision making requires informing patients and ensuring that treatment decisions reflect their goals. It is not clear to what extent this happens for patients considering total joint replacement (TJR) for hip or knee osteoarthritis.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a cross-sectional mail survey of osteoarthritis patients at 4 sites, who made a decision about TJR. The survey measured knowledge and goals, the decision making process, decision confidence, and decision regret. Decision quality was defined as the percentage of patients who had high knowledge scores and received treatments that matched their goals. Multivariable regression models examined factors associated with knowledge and decision quality.

RESULTS

There were 382 patients who participated (78.6% response rate). Mean knowledge score was 61% (SD 20.7%). In multivariate linear regression, higher education, having TJR, and site were associated with higher knowledge. Many patients (73%) received treatments that matched their goals. Thirty-one percent of patients met our definition for high decision quality. Higher decision making process scores, higher quality of life scores, and site were associated with higher decision quality. Patients who had high decision quality had less regret (73.1% vs 58.5%, p = 0.007) and greater confidence (9.0 [SD 1.6] vs 8.2 [SD 2.3] out of 10, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

A third of patients who recently made a decision about osteoarthritis treatment met both criteria for a high quality decision. Controlling for treatment, patients reporting more involvement in the decision making process, higher quality of life, and being seen at a site that uses decision aids were associated with higher decision quality.

Willingness and access to joint replacement among African American patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, controlled intervention

OBJECTIVE

African American patients are significantly less likely to undergo knee replacement for the management of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Racial difference in preference (willingness) has emerged as a key factor. This study was undertaken to examine the efficacy of a patient-centered educational intervention on patient willingness and the likelihood of receiving a referral to an orthopedic clinic.

METHODS

A total of 639 African American patients with moderate-to-severe knee OA from 3 Veterans Affairs primary care clinics were enrolled in a randomized, controlled trial with a 2 × 2 factorial design. Patients were shown a knee OA decision-aid video with or without brief counseling. The main outcome measures were change in patient willingness and receipt of a referral to an orthopedic clinic. Also assessed were whether patients discussed knee pain with their primary care provider or saw an orthopedic surgeon within 12 months of the intervention.

RESULTS

At baseline, 67% of the participants were definitely/probably willing to consider knee replacement, with no difference among the groups. The intervention increased patient willingness (75%) in all groups at 1 month. For those who received the decision aid intervention alone, the gains were sustained for up to 3 months. By 12 months postintervention, patients who received any intervention were more likely to report engaging their provider in a discussion about knee pain (92% versus 85%), to receive a referral to an orthopedic surgeon (18% versus 13%), and for those with a referral, to attend an orthopedic consult (61% versus 50%).

CONCLUSION

An educational intervention significantly increased the willingness of African American patients to consider knee replacement. It also improved the likelihood of patient-provider discussion about knee pain and access to surgical evaluation.

Shared decision-making and health for First Nations, Métis and Inuit women: a study protocol

BACKGROUND

Little is known about shared decision-making (SDM) with Métis, First Nations and Inuit women ("Aboriginal women"). SDM is a collaborative process that engages health care professional(s) and the client in making health decisions and is fundamental for informed consent and patient-centred care. The objective of this study is to explore Aboriginal women's health and social decision-making needs and to engage Aboriginal women in culturally adapting an SDM approach.

METHODS

Using participatory research principles and guided by a postcolonial theoretical lens, the proposed mixed methods research will involve three phases. Phase I is an international systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions for Aboriginal peoples' health decision-making. Developed following dialogue with key stakeholders, proposed methods are guided by the Cochrane handbook and include a comprehensive search, screening by two independent researchers, and synthesis of findings. Phases II and III will be conducted in collaboration with Minwaashin Lodge and engage an urban Aboriginal community of women in an interpretive descriptive qualitative study. In Phase II, 10 to 13 Aboriginal women will be interviewed to explore their health/social decision-making experiences. The interview guide is based on the Ottawa Decision Support Framework and previous decisional needs assessments, and as appropriate may be adapted to findings from the systematic review. Digitally-recorded interviews will be transcribed verbatim and analyzed inductively to identify participant decision-making approaches and needs when making health/social decisions. In Phase III, there will be cultural adaptation of an SDM facilitation tool, the Ottawa Personal Decision Guide, by two focus groups consisting of five to seven Aboriginal women. The culturally adapted guide will undergo usability testing through individual interviews with five to six women who are about to make a health/social decision. Focus groups and individual interviews will be digitally-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed inductively to identify the adaptation required and usability of the adapted decision guide.

DISCUSSION

Findings from this research will produce a culturally sensitive intervention to facilitate SDM within a population of urban Aboriginal women, which can subsequently be evaluated to determine impacts on narrowing health/social decision-making inequities.

Differences between actual and expected leisure activities after total knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis

This prospective cohort study determined the type, frequency, intensity, and duration of actual vs expected leisure activity among a cohort undergoing total knee arthroplasty. Data on actual and expected participation in 36 leisure activities were collected preoperatively and at 12 months in 90 patients with knee osteoarthritis. Despite high expectations, there were statistically and clinically significant differences between actual and expected activity at 12 months suggesting that expectations may not have been fulfilled. The differences were equivalent to walking 14 less miles per week than expected, which is more than the amount of activity recommended in national physical activity guidelines. Perhaps an educational intervention could be implemented to help patients establish appropriate and realistic leisure activity expectations before surgery.