Knowledge of Knee Osteoarthritis and Its Impact on Health in the Middle East: Are They Different to Countries in the Developed World ? A Qualitative Study

Knowledge of knee osteoarthritis (OA) and its management options affects adherence to treatment, symptoms, and function. Manysociocultural differences exist between Jordan, as a representative of the Middle East, and the developed world which mightinfluence the knowledge of the pathology and its impact on health.Objectives. To explore the knowledge of the pathology andthe experience of people diagnosed with knee OA living in Jordan.Methods. Qualitative study design using a triangulationmethod of both focus groups and in-depth semistructured interviews. Fourteen participants were included (13 females and onemale). One focus group and seven in-depth semistructured interviews were conducted. Discussions were audiotaped andtranscribed. Framework analysis was used, and data were mapped to the International Classification of Functioning, Disabilityand Health framework.Results. The themes are as follows: (1) body functions and structures included two subthemes: physicalchanges and psychological impact; (2) activity limitation and participation restriction included three subthemes: factorsinfluencing the activities, cultural and social perspectives to activity limitation, and participation restriction; (3) personal factorsincluded three subthemes: knowledge and personal interpretation of disease process, knowledge of management options to reliefsymptoms, and influence of personal factors on activity and participation; and (4) environmental factors included threesubthemes: service delivery process, ineffective communication across the care pathway, and facilitators and barriers.Conclusions. Knowledge of the disease was lacking as a consequence of inappropriate service delivery and culture. Activitylimitations and participation restrictions are similar in Jordan to other cultures in addition to limitations in religious,employment, and transportation activities. The results demonstrate that the effect of knee OA varies among different culturesand highlight the role of healthcare professionals worldwide in understanding the impact of culture on health. They alsoincrease the awareness of healthcare professionals, specifically in Jordan, on the limitations in delivered services and theimportance of education.