This study aimed to explore the experiences of patients with KOA regarding physiotherapy management in the Hong Kong healthcare system.
This descriptive qualitative study used a purposive sample of participants with knee osteoarthritis. The 21-interview questions focused on: (1) participants' perceptions and experiences concerning physiotherapy management; and (2) factors influencing patients’ adherence to the recommended physiotherapy care and advice on pain control and to stay physically active after care. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clark inductive thematic analysis, guided by the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research.
Fourteen patients with KOA (mean age of 65.9 years) participated in 45 minutes of face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Participants’ perceptions and experiences were organized into five key themes: pain experience and overall management; treatment and rehabilitation; exercise and mobility; daily life impact and adaptation; and access to resources. Participants reported a mix of positive and negative experiences with physiotherapy care. Positive aspects of their experiences included the assessment of their condition, the use of heat therapy and assistive devices for pain management, and the prescription of land-based and home-based exercises to improve mobility and function. However, barriers to patient adherence to treatments included inconvenient access to water-based exercises, limited understanding of the benefits of exercise, and perceived suboptimal quality of physiotherapy care due to time constraints and challenges in establishing a good rapport with healthcare providers. Facilitators to adherence included the belief in the effectiveness of exercise and the ability to incorporate exercises into their daily routines.
This study provides valuable insights into the contextual factors that influence the implementation of evidence-based physiotherapy care for KOA in Hong Kong. Patients with KOA reported a mix of positive and negative experiences with physiotherapy care, highlighting the need for tailored interventions to address the identified barriers and for leveraging the facilitators at the patient level.
Addressing the identified barriers, such as access to resources and patient education, and leveraging facilitators, such as patients’ beliefs in the effectiveness of exercise, physiotherapists can enhance the delivery and adoption of evidence-based KOA management approaches. This, in turn, has the potential to improve patient outcomes, quality of life, and the overall effectiveness of physiotherapy care for individuals living with KOA in Hong Kong and potentially other similar contexts.
Physiotherapy care management
Patient experiences
