A method for self-assessment of disability before and after hip replacement operations

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Rheumatology
• Patient-Reported Outcomes

Background:

• Hip arthritis significantly impacts daily life, causing pain and limiting mobility.
• Accurate assessment of patient-reported symptoms is crucial for effective treatment planning and progress evaluation.
• Existing methods may not fully capture the multifaceted disabilities associated with hip arthritis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a standardized questionnaire for assessing daily problems in patients with hip arthritis.
• To provide clinicians with a reliable tool for treatment planning and monitoring patient progress.
• To create a concise and patient-friendly instrument for evaluating hip arthritis-related disabilities.

Main Methods:

• A preliminary study generated 81 statements on pain, movement, and activity restrictions.
• Statements were tested for reliability and sensitivity to changes in patient status.
• Responses from 32 pre-operative and 66 post-operative hip replacement patients were compared with independent assessments.
• 33 statements were selected based on their ability to differentiate between pre- and post-operative patients and correlation with independent evaluations.

Main Results:

• A final questionnaire comprising 33 statements was developed.
• The questionnaire demonstrated validity and conciseness in summarizing patient disabilities.
• Selected statements showed sensitivity to differences between pre- and post-operative hip arthritis patients.
• The questionnaire correlated well with independent assessments of pain and physical limitations.

Conclusions:

• The developed questionnaire is a valid and concise tool for assessing hip arthritis patient disabilities.
• The instrument is simple for patients to complete, facilitating efficient clinical assessment.
• This standardized form aids clinicians in treatment planning and judging patient progress after hip interventions.