Primary Care Patient Engagement With Patient-Reported Outcomes to Assess Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic condition in the United States, significantly impacting quality of life and health-care costs. Disparities in OA treatment across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups highlight the importance of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in managing under-treated populations. This study assessed the feasibility of using a text message-based system to collect patient-reported outcomes (PROs) on knee OA prevalence and symptom severity among FQHC primary care patients.

A multimethod pilot study invited 223 FQHC patients with knee OA via text to complete a PRO survey on knee pain and function. Nonresponders received text and phone reminders. Researchers evaluated response rates, reasons for noncompletion, and patient perspectives on symptom monitoring.

Overall, 24.7% of patients completed the PRO survey-28% among English speakers and 17% among Spanish speakers. The most common barrier was disconnected phone numbers. Qualitative feedback from both responders and nonresponders showed strong support (92%) for ongoing symptom monitoring. Responders found the survey user-friendly, while nonresponders noted technical and trust-related challenges.

Text message-based PRO collection is a feasible and acceptable method for knee OA symptom tracking in FQHCs. While the approach is scalable and well-received, patient education about the purpose of PROs is essential. Improved communication and accessibility strategies are recommended to increase engagement and fully leverage PROs for managing chronic conditions in low-resource settings.