Evaluation of the expectations osteoarthritis patients have concerning healthcare, and their implications for practitioners.

BACKGROUND: The expectations of patients with osteoarthritis are essential for health care provision and may be used to improve the patient-doctor relationship.
METHODS: A total of 96 osteoarthritis patients aged 42-89 years (mean=65; 81% female) were recruited among customers of 10 pharmacies in 10 towns in 10 regions (selected at random from the 22 French regions). Ten focus groups were organized looking at three categories of expectation: 1) Information about and understanding of osteoarthritis; its impact on lifestyle, and its treatment, consequences, and outlook; 2) Communication skills, attitudes of practitioners and communication between health professionals; 3) Support available from doctors, family circle and society.
RESULTS: The patient-practitioner relationship begins with a dialogue, the quality of which, the participants could be improved by: developing greater trust: patients expect communication skills and expressions of sympathy that practitioners seem ill-prepared to provide. Strengthening involvement: general practitioners in particular should act as mediators and facilitators to improve recognition and understanding of osteoarthritis by employers and public decision-makers.
CONCLUSION: The present study enabled patients to express their expectations. Meeting those expectations could markedly improve the therapeutic process, but the question arises of whether practitioners are ready to agree that there is a need to reconsider and modify the care they provide for their patients.