Characterizing Patient Preferences Surrounding Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic surgery
• Health services research
• Patient-centered care

Background:

• Episode-based bundled payments for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) aim for cost-effective, patient-centered care.
• Understanding patient perceptions of TKA care is crucial for achieving these goals.
• This study explored patient preferences for TKA care episode components.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate patient preferences for various components within the total knee arthroplasty care episode.
• To identify key attributes that influence patient satisfaction and decision-making in TKA.

Main Methods:

• Best-worst scaling methodology was employed to analyze patient preferences.
• Participants were recruited from orthopaedic clinics, including those with chronic knee pain.
• Hierarchical Bayesian estimation and latent class analysis were used to determine attribute importance and preference profiles.

Main Results:

• 174 patients completed the survey; 67% were female, with a mean age of 62.71 years.
• Surgeon-related factors, such as experience, satisfaction ratings, and complication rates, were highly valued.
• Latent class analysis identified four distinct patient preference segments.

Conclusions:

• Significant differences exist in patient preferences for TKA care components.
• Distinct patient preference profiles were characterized, offering insights for care customization.
• This information can guide stakeholders in focusing policy and designing customized TKA care bundles.