Osteoarthritis patients often expect conservative treatment to fail

People with osteoarthritis have low expectations of the success of conservative approaches to managing their condition, says a UK study published in Rheumatology International Journal.

Over 1,300 people from 33 studies were included in the review, which found that people with osteoarthritis often delay their diagnosis, deciding instead to self-manage their condition using informal information. Professional opinion is only sought after a critical point is reached.

People then tend to think that self-management techniques will fail and are simply delaying the inevitable requirement for a joint replacement.

“Patients should be enthused towards the principles of self-management and clinicians should not trivialise osteoarthritis,” report the study authors. “This may provide a more valuable perception of non-operative management to promote its adoption and adherence in managing osteoarthritis.”