Proposed Topic (Most preferred): :
Enhancing Partnership with Patients and Community (Projects initiated to engage patients / carers / community to improve efficiency / quality of care)
Authors (including presenting author) :
Chan CY(1), Tang WS (1), Cheung SH(1), Suen CC(1), Lee YC(1), Man CH (1), Fan CC(1), Li L(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Physiotherapy Department, Yan Chai Hospital
Introduction :
Osteoarthritis (OA) knee is a prevalent condition among the elderly population, causing pain and disability. Individuals with OA knee also tend to have comorbidities such as stroke, metabolic disease, and impaired mental health. The Yan Chai Hospital Physiotherapy department offers the Structured Non-surgical Treatment Program (SNTP) for individuals with Osteoarthritis (OA) knee. This program focuses on early intervention and includes various services such as pre-habilitation, group exercise classes, patient education, and coping strategies for OA knee pain management.
However, with the aging problem in Hong Kong, there is an increasing demand for physiotherapy services for OA knee. Additionally, the time and traveling costs to receive treatment in hospitals can be a barrier for patients to continue the program.
District Health Centre (DHC) is a community-based healthcare facility that serves the residents of the district. The centre provides comprehensive primary healthcare, which includes specialized clinics, health education and promotion.
We therefore identify the potential of DHC. Collaboration with Kwai Chung (KC) DHC were underwent since 8/2022. Eligible patients will be referred to DHC to continue SNTP under consent. Through this cooperation, benefits are identified as the time and travelling costs for patients are reduced, providing a second option for OA knee patients to receive our comprehensive knee treatment.
Objectives :
The objective of this collaboration is to establish a comprehensive self-management program for OA knee patients in collaboration with the DHC. The aim is to provide an alternative option for patients to receive treatment in their community, particularly for those who experience acute exacerbation of knee pain and stiffness, which may hinder them from going to hospitals for appointments.
Methodology :
The compliance of SNTP patients in the DHC is evaluated by considering the number of patients referred to the DHC under patient consent. The number of patients who decline the offer to go to the DHC is also recorded, and their reasons, if provided, are analyzed.
Result & Outcome :
From August 2022 to December 2023, a total of 177 eligible patients were referred to Kwai Chung DHC. Out of these, 155 patients attended at least one lesson, indicating an acceptable compliance rate. Only 31 patients declined the offer to go to the DHC. Analysis revealed that the main reasons for declining were not related to their knee conditions, but rather miscellaneous reasons such as work or travel commitments. This successful collaboration between SNTP and DHC has eliminated obstacles for OA knee patients to receive treatment and provided them with a second treatment option.
