The possibility of using an open-ended questionnaire when analyzing patients’ preoperative expectations after primary knee arthroplasty

Abstract

Background. Unrealized expectations are one of the strongest predictors of patient’s dissatisfaction with the results of primary knee replacement. Every year, a huge number of studies are conducted around the world to assess patient satisfaction with the results of primary knee arthroplasty. At the same time, there are very few studies evaluating preoperative expectations themselves. Purpose. To evaluate the possibility of using an open-ended questionnaire when analyzing patients’ preoperative expectations from the results of primary knee arthroplasty. Methods. A prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of using an open-ended questionnaire in analyzing patients’ preoperative expectations from the results of primary knee replacement in comparison with the use of a specialized HSS knee replacement expectations survey questionnaire in 200 patients. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n=100) — patients filling out the HSS knee replacement expectations survey, group 2 (n=100) — patients filling out an open-ended questionnaire to assess patient’s expectations from the results of the primary knee arthroplasty, the questionnaire having been developed during the current study. Results. The study involved 200 patients hospitalized for primary knee arthroplasty. Of these, 172 women (86%), mean age 63.62 (SD 8.03) and 28 men (14%), mean age 63.5 (SD 7.17). According to the results of the questionnaire, both when using the specialized HSS Knee replacement expectations survey and the open-ended questionnaire, the main preoperative expectations of patients from knee replacement surgery are a decrease in the level of pain and an improvement in the function of the knee joint. Conclusion. The use of open-ended questionnaires when assessing preoperative expectations of patients has an advantage over specialized questionnaires only at the initial stages of the study, since it allows one to determine the range of the most relevant expectations of the patients, but is in no way suitable for their detailed and structured analysis.