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“You don't put it down to arthritis” : A qualitative study of the first symptoms recalled by individuals with knee osteoarthritis

King, L. K. ; Mahmoudian, A. LU ; Waugh, E. J. ; Stanaitis, I. ; Gomes, M. ; Hung, V. ; MacKay, C. ; Liew, J. W. ; Wang, Q. and Turkiewicz, A. LU , et al. (2024) In Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open 6(1).
Abstract

Objective: As part of the first phase of the OARSI Early-stage Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis (EsSKOA) initiative, we explored the first symptoms and experiences recalled by individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Design: This qualitative study, informed by qualitative description, was a secondary analysis of focus groups (n ​= ​17 groups) and one-on-one interviews (n ​= ​3) conducted in 91 individuals living with knee OA as part of an international study to better understand the OA pain experience. In each focus group or interview, participants were asked to describe their first symptoms of knee OA. We inductively coded these transcripts and conducted thematic analysis. Results: Mean age of participants was 70 years (range 47–92)... (More)

Objective: As part of the first phase of the OARSI Early-stage Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis (EsSKOA) initiative, we explored the first symptoms and experiences recalled by individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Design: This qualitative study, informed by qualitative description, was a secondary analysis of focus groups (n ​= ​17 groups) and one-on-one interviews (n ​= ​3) conducted in 91 individuals living with knee OA as part of an international study to better understand the OA pain experience. In each focus group or interview, participants were asked to describe their first symptoms of knee OA. We inductively coded these transcripts and conducted thematic analysis. Results: Mean age of participants was 70 years (range 47–92) and 68 ​% were female. We developed four overarching themes: Insidious and Episodic Onset, Diverse Early Symptoms, Must be Something Else, and Adjustments. Participants described the gradual and intermittent way in which symptoms of knee OA developed over many years; many could not identify a specific starting point. Participants described diverse initial knee symptoms, including activity-exacerbated joint pain, stiffness and crepitus. Most participants dismissed early symptoms or rationalized their presence, employing various strategies to enable continued participation in recreational and daily activities. Few sought medical attention until physical functioning was demonstrably impacted. Conclusions: The earliest symptoms of knee OA are frequently insidious in onset, episodic and present long before individuals present to health professionals. These results highlight challenges to identifying people with knee OA early and support the development of specific classification criteria for EsSKOA to capture individuals at an early stage.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Knee osteoarthritis, Patient-orientated research, Qualitative research, Symptoms
in
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open
volume
6
issue
1
article number
100428
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:38229918
  • scopus:85181670530
ISSN
2665-9131
DOI
10.1016/j.ocarto.2023.100428
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8fa2494e-449a-4a46-be3a-2aa6860c2526
date added to LUP
2024-02-12 12:51:46
date last changed
2024-04-14 04:26:41
@article{8fa2494e-449a-4a46-be3a-2aa6860c2526,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objective: As part of the first phase of the OARSI Early-stage Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis (EsSKOA) initiative, we explored the first symptoms and experiences recalled by individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Design: This qualitative study, informed by qualitative description, was a secondary analysis of focus groups (n ​= ​17 groups) and one-on-one interviews (n ​= ​3) conducted in 91 individuals living with knee OA as part of an international study to better understand the OA pain experience. In each focus group or interview, participants were asked to describe their first symptoms of knee OA. We inductively coded these transcripts and conducted thematic analysis. Results: Mean age of participants was 70 years (range 47–92) and 68 ​% were female. We developed four overarching themes: Insidious and Episodic Onset, Diverse Early Symptoms, Must be Something Else, and Adjustments. Participants described the gradual and intermittent way in which symptoms of knee OA developed over many years; many could not identify a specific starting point. Participants described diverse initial knee symptoms, including activity-exacerbated joint pain, stiffness and crepitus. Most participants dismissed early symptoms or rationalized their presence, employing various strategies to enable continued participation in recreational and daily activities. Few sought medical attention until physical functioning was demonstrably impacted. Conclusions: The earliest symptoms of knee OA are frequently insidious in onset, episodic and present long before individuals present to health professionals. These results highlight challenges to identifying people with knee OA early and support the development of specific classification criteria for EsSKOA to capture individuals at an early stage.</p>}},
  author       = {{King, L. K. and Mahmoudian, A. and Waugh, E. J. and Stanaitis, I. and Gomes, M. and Hung, V. and MacKay, C. and Liew, J. W. and Wang, Q. and Turkiewicz, A. and Haugen, I. K. and Appleton, C. T. and Lohmander, S. and Englund, M. and Runhaar, J. and Neogi, T. and Hawker, G. A.}},
  issn         = {{2665-9131}},
  keywords     = {{Knee osteoarthritis; Patient-orientated research; Qualitative research; Symptoms}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open}},
  title        = {{“You don't put it down to arthritis” : A qualitative study of the first symptoms recalled by individuals with knee osteoarthritis}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocarto.2023.100428}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ocarto.2023.100428}},
  volume       = {{6}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}