Implementation research on osteoarthritis in Asia: a systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Musculoskeletal Health
• Public Health
• Healthcare Implementation Science

Background:

• Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread musculoskeletal disorder impacting quality of life, particularly in aging populations.
• Effective OA interventions are available but often poorly implemented in Asian healthcare settings.
• This study addresses the need to assess existing evidence on OA implementation research in Asia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically assess and collate existing evidence on implementation research for osteoarthritis (OA) in Asian populations.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to the implementation of OA interventions in diverse Asian healthcare contexts.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across multiple databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, Google Scholar, Shodhganga) from 2004-2024.
• PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed, including English-language restrictions.
• Three reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed quality using the StaRI checklist, with findings summarized via narrative synthesis.

Main Results:

• Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, evaluating educational and community-based OA interventions across various Asian settings.
• Studies reported moderate to high quality but showed significant heterogeneity in implementation outcomes (adherence, fidelity, acceptability, adoption, effectiveness).
• Primary implementation barriers identified were socio-cultural practices, resource constraints, and healthcare system limitations.

Conclusions:

• A significant gap exists in high-quality OA implementation studies in Asia, hindering evidence-to-practice translation.
• Future research should focus on context-specific, scalable strategies and standardized outcome measures.
• Addressing socio-cultural barriers is crucial for optimizing OA management in diverse Asian populations.