An invigorating journey towards better function and well-being: A qualitative study of knee osteoarthritis patients' experiences with an online exercise and education intervention

Charlotte Simonÿ; Brian Clausen; Malene Beck; Mette Nyberg; Lars Hermann Tang; Søren T Skou; Pætur M Holm

doi:10.1016/j.ocarto.2023.100384

An invigorating journey towards better function and well-being: A qualitative study of knee osteoarthritis patients' experiences with an online exercise and education intervention

Osteoarthr Cartil Open. 2023 Jul 13;5(3):100384. doi: 10.1016/j.ocarto.2023.100384. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Authors

Charlotte Simonÿ¹, Brian Clausen², Malene Beck³, Mette Nyberg⁴, Lars Hermann Tang¹, Søren T Skou⁵, Pætur M Holm⁶

Affiliations

¹ The Research Unit PROgrez, Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy,Naestved-Slagelse-Ringsted Hospitals, Slagelse, Denmark & Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
² Sano, Denmark & The Research Unit PROgrez, Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Naestved-Slagelse-Ringsted Hospitals, Slagelse, Denmark & Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
³ The Research Unit PROgrez, Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy,Naestved-Slagelse-Ringsted Hospitals Slagelse, Denmark & Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
⁴ The Research Unit PROgrez, Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy,Naestved-Slagelse-Ringsted Hospitals, Slagelse, Denmark.
⁵ The Research Unit PROgrez, Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Naestved-Slagelse-Ringsted Hospitals, Denmark & Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Function and Physiotherapy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
⁶ The Research Unit PROgrez, Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Naestved-Slagelse-Ringsted Hospitals, Denmark& Research Unit for Musculoskeletal Function and Physiotherapy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense Denmark.

Abstract

Objective: To explore what it means for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) to engage in online delivered exercise and education.

Method: We combined participant observations and focus group interviews with knee OA patients who engaged in an 8-week program (12 exercise sessions and 2 education sessions) delivered online. Data underwent a three-level phenomenological-hermeneutic interpretation inspired by Ricoeur's narrative and interpretation theory.

Results: We performed 17 participant observations during online group-based exercise sessions with twenty individuals with knee OA (12 females), median age 71 years (range: 48 to 81), and five focus group interviews with fifteen of the individuals. The following three themes emerged from the data analysis: 1. Exercise engagement portrays an experience of ownership of the exercise-based treatment, leading to better function and well-being and raising hope for the future 2. A good start but only halfway supported portrays perceived well-guided in performing knee OA exercise, however also some unmet support needs in the online format, and 3. Beneficial peer companionship with online constraints portrays a socially engaging peer forum that, at times, was limited by the online format.

Conclusions: This phenomenological-hermeneutic study reflects that supervised online exercise and education facilitate identity mobility, potentially increasing self-efficacy to adopt weekly exercise habits in patients with knee OA. However, the program may benefit from enabling a more interactive approach between peer participants and combining the online format with physical group classes. Moreover, further individualization and focus on a gradual approach toward self-management are encouraged.

Keywords: Education; Exercise; Knee osteoarthritis; Online; Patients' experiences; Qualitative research; Running headline.