Understanding the Differences in the Management of Patients With Arthritis of the Knee or Hip

Reasons for Disparities in Joint Replacement Utilization

The purpose of this study is to examine cultural and clinical context factors in African-American and white veterans with knee or hip osteoarthritis with a focus on how these factors may be potentially modifiable determinants of willingness to consider joint replacement.

The study focuses on identifying potentially modifiable determinants of patients� willingness to consider joint replacement as a treatment option for osteoarthritis of the knee or hip. This line of research is informed by not only our prior work but also recent studies on health disparities and patient decision-making. Our long-term goal is the development and evaluation of interventions to target these determinants of willingness in order to eliminate ethnic disparities in joint replacement. The study findings will assist in laying the groundwork for the design of such interventions for patients with osteoarthritis.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Chronic, frequent knee or hip pain based on the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey
2. Age >50 and <80 (at least 50 but not to exceed 79 years of age)
3. Severe or extreme knee or hip OA on the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (i.e., score greater than or equal to 39)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prior history of knee or hip joint replacement
2. Terminal illness (i.e., end-stage cancer, CHF, COPD, etc.)
3. Physician-diagnosed inflammatory arthritis
4. Dementia
5. Prosthetic leg