About 18% of osteoarthritis patients aren't sure whether they need a knee replacement after discussing the possibility with their doctor. That may not seem like it could happen -- but it can and it does. Patients with severe osteoarthritis are sometimes confused after talking about knee replacement with their doctor. This was the case with one of my family members. When asked what her doctor recommended regarding knee replacement, my family member responded, "I'm not sure what he said."
According to a report in the January 15, 2009 issue of Arthritis Care & Research, patients and doctors often disagree when it comes to discussing the severity of osteoarthritis or the risks and benefits of total knee replacement. Generally, doctors felt osteoarthritis was less severe than patients felt about their own condition. Patients who were less involved in their healthcare decisions and those who didn't trust their doctor differed more with their doctor about knee replacement surgery too.
Why is this important? The study showed that patients were more satisfied with their care and more likely to adhere to doctor recommendations when there was agreement with their doctor over whether knee replacement would be beneficial. Essentially, this shows that being on the same page with your doctor can be very important -- possibly even affecting surgical outcomes.
Related Resources:
- Talk to Your Doctor!
- The Patient-Physician Encounter
- Patient Education - Can You Know Too Much?
- Knee Replacement - What You Need to Know
- Why Do Patients Delay or Decline Knee Replacement Surgery?
Share Your Experiences:
Photo by Annett Vauteck (iStockphoto)
