[Satisfaction with joint infiltrations in primary care]

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the level of patient satisfaction after joint injections with corticosteroids and local anesthetics in Primary Care (PC). Secondarily, we pretend to analyze the sociodemographic characteristics of the sample, the frequency of injected joints, adverse effects, analgesia used at least 30days, the imaging tests performed, and the primary diagnoses leading to injections.

Observational, descriptive, longitudinal, and prospective study. The estimated sample size was 64 subjects. Absolute values and frequencies were calculated for qualitative variables (sociodemographic variables, anatomical regions infiltrated, additional tests, analgesia used at least 30days, adverse effects, level of satisfaction four weeks after the procedure, and the possibility of re-infiltration if pain in the same or a different anatomical area occurs), as well as means and standard deviations for quantitative variables (sociodemographic variables). To determine the level of pain in the anatomical region to be infiltrated, a verbal numeric rating scale (VRNS) was used before the procedure, as well as two and four weeks afterward. Patient satisfaction was determined using an ad hoc scale with five possible options (none, minimal, acceptable, high, very high) four weeks after the procedure.

The satisfaction with the procedure in this study was very high (53.8%) or high (24.6%). 90.8% of patients indicated they would repeat local injections with local anesthetic and corticosteroids again. If they needed to repeat any injection again, 86.2% would do it in primary care. The knee was injected in 41.5% of cases, and in 36.9% of cases, for the diagnosis of gonarthrosis.

Pain in the affected region decreased from severe to mild one month after the procedure, resulting in a very high level of satisfaction. The high level of patient satisfaction with this health program justifies its use at primary care centers.