A Qualitative Study among Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis during Physiotherapy

Introduction: Perceptions, experiences, and the factors that facilitate, and inhibit the rehabilitation process in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis (PKOA) may be influenced by their lifestyle and context. Aim: To investigate PKOA in Lower-Middle-Income Country (LMIC) India,about their views and lived experiences and to explore and the factors that support and hinder Physiotherapy (PT) among PKOA. Materials and Methods: Qualitative design using phenomenological approach were employed. PKOA were recruited using a purposive sampling technique. Demographic data of a PKOA were collected using a data entry form, and their economic status was entered according to the Modified Kuppuswamy Scale (MKS). One-to-one, semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face or by telephone, recorded using Sony ICD-UX570 audio recorder, and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke, six stages of thematic analysis based on recent recommendations (2024) with NVivo software version 15. Results: Fifteen PKOA were included with a mean age of 56.3 years, height 157.3 cm, weight 66.5kg, and Body Mass Index (BMI) 26.9 kg/cm2 . Educational and socio-economic status were assessed using MKS, distributed across lower (13.33%), upper lower (6.67%), lower middle (60%), upper middle (20%), illiterate (26.67%), primary school certificate (20%), middle school certificate (33.33%), high school certificate (13.33%), and graduate (6.67%). Interviews duration ranged from 10 to 30 minutes. Four themes were developed, including perceptions, experiences, facilitators, and inhibitors. Twenty-nine sub-themes were developed under these themes. Conclusion: Patients lacked knowledge of disease and the efficacy of PT for knee OA. PKOA has experience with PT more positively and less negatively. Personal, physical, social, health-related, and organisational factors were both facilitating and inhibiting PT and its adherence during the rehabilitation process.