A person-centered approach to collaboration for osteoarthritis management: a qualitative exploration of patients' perspectives.

Abstract

Collaboration is essential for delivering high-quality, person-centered care to individuals with osteoarthritis. Despite its recognized benefits, studies have shown that many osteoarthritis patients do not receive effective collaborative care, leading to fragmented service delivery, inadequate referrals, and suboptimal person-centered outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and describe osteoarthritis patients' experiences of person-centered care, and how these experiences shaped their perceptions of collaboration. Data were collected using three focus group discussions (n = 14). The interview guide was informed by a thorough literature review and a pilot focus group, and included topics on professional support, patient involvement, and facilitators and barriers to collaborative practice. A criterion sampling technique was used to recruit osteoarthritis patients. Six themes were identified through thematic analysis, following Braun and Clarke's six-step framework: (a) a holistic approach to healthcare, (b) professionals have equal responsibilities, (c) developing connections during healthcare provision, (d) trust in the expertise and decision-making of professionals, (e) patient-driven healthcare, and (f) feeling heard and connected in care. Exploration of key collaborative components and their link to person-centered care is necessary to direct the development of improvement strategies to strengthen collaborative practice and the patient's experience.