Background/Purpose: Widely varying rehabilitation practices for total joint replacement (TJR) for hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) contribute to inconsistent patient outcomes and satisfaction. Informed by high quality evidence and expert consensus, quality indicators (QIs) were developed to guide improvements in the quality and consistency of TJR rehabilitation care. This study aimed to identify patients’ and healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) resource preferences and priorities for knowledge translation toolkits for implementing the QIs into routine clinical practice.

Methods: We conducted online patient (termed ‘EQUIP-TJR’) and HCP (termed ‘QUICK-TJR’) surveys in May and November 2017 respectively. Patients were adults on a surgical waitlist for TJR for hip or knee OA OR who had a TJR in past year and HCPs treated or educated patients before or after TJR. Posters, social media, targeted e-mail blasts, and e-newsletters were used for recruitment and a $100 gift card prize draw was included.

Surveys had 4 sections: 1) Rating toolkit resources on 5-point scale; 2) Rating toolkits’ impact on rehabilitation care and outcomes on 5-point scale; 3) Toolkit dissemination strategies; and 4) Participant demographics. Surveys took 15 minutes to complete. Descriptive analyses were performed. The UBC Behavioural Research Ethics Board approved the study.

Results: Totals of 137 and 164 individuals completed the EQUIP-TJR and QUICK-TJR surveys respectively. In both surveys, a majority were from the Western Provinces and female. About 80% of EQUIP-TJR respondents were aged 55-74 years, equal proportions were undergoing hip and knee surgery and 68% were post-operative. QUICK-TJR respondents were predominantly physical therapists (77%), of varied age groups, and from public and private practice settings.

Patients’ five highest rated QI resources were: 1) Education booklets-98%; 2) QI questionnaire-84%; 3) QI checklist-80%; 4) QI passport-72%; and 5) Patient video vignette-71%. The first three of these tools were also among HCPs’ top five plus QIs embedded in assessment forms (51%) and QI pocket cards (41%). Patients and HCPs agreed that the toolkit resources would help to improve the rehabilitation care provided (65% and 84%), track quality of care (85% and 68%) and communicate expectations (83% and 78%), respectively. Respondents suggested a wide range of targeted toolkit dissemination strategies including print and electronic formats, traditional and social media for local and national audiences.

Conclusion: There is considerable overlap in patient and HCP preferences and perceived value of QI resources. Results will inform development of EQUIP-TJR and QUICK-TJR toolkits and future research of their impact on quality and outcomes of rehabilitation care.

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/patients-and-healthcare-professionals-resource-preferences-for-a-knowledge-translation-toolkit-for-hip-and-knee-replacement-rehabilitation/