Background The objective of this study was to evaluate the patients' experience and needs with HOA, in order to establish a therapeutic education program for HOA patients.

Objectives As the subject was about descriptive, not quantifiable elements, qualitative methodology was chosen. Patients were submitted to individual semi-directive interviews. Verbatim were analyzed following the grounded theory until saturation of data.

Methods Twelve HOA patients accepted to participate to the study. There were 10 women and 2 men, aged 45 to 79 years. Body-mass indexes varied from 18.7 to 31.6 kg/m². Clinical and radiological severity of HOA varied among patients.

They provided data on the experience of HOA, which is influenced by clinical and functional signs and the evolution of the disease. Pain and deformity are the main clinical signs, and lead to severe functional impairment. The functional, psychological, social consequences of HOA also have an impact on the patient experience. Patients develop adaptive strategies, mainly recourse to medical management, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies. The needs of HOA patients were also explored, and three main ideas emerged. First, they want to be better informed on HOA. Second, they have a feeling of failure of conventional medicine, and often use alternative medicines. Third, the fear of disability with the course of the disease is very strong. They have difficulty accepting pharmacological treatments, but often do not realize the therapeutic nature of non-pharmacological treatments.

Results The main concerns of HOA patients are: information, non-pharmacological treatments and evolutionary risks. These themes should be included in the development of therapeutic education programs for HOA.

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References

1. We thank Pr François Rannou, Pr Pascal Richette and Pr Eric Roulot for providing access to HOA consultation in their centers for recruitment. We thank Dr Laurence Baumann-Coblenz for her advice in qualitative methodology.

References

Acknowledgements We thank Pr François Rannou, Pr Pascal Richette and Pr Eric Roulot for providing access to HOA consultation in their centers for recruitment. We thank Dr Laurence Baumann-Coblenz for her advice in qualitative methodology.

Disclosure of Interest None declared