J Knee Surg 2023; 36(14): 1422-1437
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1772608
Special Focus Section

Engaging Patients and Caregivers to Develop a Patient-Centered Agenda for Comparative Effectiveness Research Focused on the Treatment of Complex Knee Problems

Lisa A. Royse 
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
,
Sandi Strother
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
,
Matt Trachsel
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
,
David R. Mehr
2   Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
,
Kimberly Hoffman
2   Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
,
James L. Cook
1   Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
› Author Affiliations
Funding This work was partially funded through a PCORI Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award (#EACB-22651).
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Abstract

Complex articular cartilage loss in the knee is being diagnosed more frequently and earlier in life, and patients are faced with major decisions regarding invasive surgical interventions at increasingly younger ages. There is a critical unmet need to provide patient-centered comparative effectiveness research for the hundreds of thousands of patients faced with these treatment decisions each year. Toward filling the need, we developed the Patient AdvisoR Team iN Orthopaedic ReSearch (PARTNORS) program. We recruited a diverse group of patients and caregivers with lived experiences in dealing with complex knee problems to define patient-centered research priorities for comparative biological and artificial knee surgery research for middle-aged adults. Adapting the Stakeholder Engagement in Question Development and Prioritization Method, PARTNORS defined a 20-question list of patient-centered research questions of factors influencing a patients' choice between biological and artificial knee surgeries. The highest prioritized research question related to functional level postsurgery as it relates to daily activities and recreational activities. The second highest prioritized research questions related to insurance coverage and financial costs. Other prioritized research areas included caregiving needs, implant longevity, recovery and rehabilitation time, patient satisfaction and success rates, individual characteristics, and risks. By engaging a group of patients and caregivers and including them as members of a multidisciplinary research team, comparative effectiveness research that includes patient-centered factors that go beyond typical clinical success indicators for knee surgery can be designed to allow physicians and patients to work together toward evidence-based shared decisions. This shared decision-making process helps to align patients' and health care team's goals and expectations to improve outcomes.

Keywords

patient engagement in research - SEED method - patient-centered research - artificial or biological knee surgeries


Publication History

Received: 15 May 2023

Accepted: 19 July 2023

Article published online:
21 August 2023

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