How do we face patients' expectations in joint arthroplasty?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Patient-reported outcomes
• Health psychology

Background:

• Patient expectations significantly influence postoperative satisfaction after joint replacement.
• Understanding preoperative expectations is crucial for managing patient outcomes in arthroplasty.
• Previous research highlights the link between fulfilled expectations and patient satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the level of preoperative expectations among patients undergoing joint replacement surgery in Germany.
• To identify demographic and clinical factors influencing these expectations.
• To provide a basis for better patient recommendations and communication strategies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of survey data from 180 attendees of a patient information event.
• Survey included demographic questions and three expectation-related questions from the New Knee Society Score.
• An expectation score (0-12) was calculated based on survey responses.

Main Results:

• The majority of patients (87.2%) exhibited high or very high expectations (mean score 10.17).
• Expectations were independent of age and prior attendance at information events.
• Female gender and prior arthroplasty history slightly increased expectations; isolated hip pain patients had higher expectations than knee pain patients.

Conclusions:

• A significant majority of patients present with high expectations for joint replacement surgery.
• Clear physician-patient communication is essential to align expectations with realistic outcomes.
• Proactive expectation management can prevent postoperative dissatisfaction and enhance patient satisfaction.