Information needs of people with elbow osteoarthritis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the information needs of people with elbow osteoarthritis seeking healthcare: a qualitative interview study
IRAS ID
336849
Contact name
Katy Boland
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 28 days
Research summary
In this interview study, people with stiff, painful elbows, or ‘elbow osteoarthritis’ will talk to the researcher about how and why they use information about their condition.
We know that people with osteoarthritis use information to manage their symptoms and make important decisions about their care. Despite patients and clinicians agreeing that access to high-quality information is important, people with osteoarthritis often say they want more information, communicated more clearly and in different ways.
Because not as many people get elbow osteoarthritis as they do hip or knee osteoarthritis, we don’t know what information they might need. It is also less clear which treatments work best for elbow osteoarthritis. So, people with elbow osteoarthritis might be making important decisions about their treatment with very little access to information.
Up to 15 people, aged 45 or older who have elbow osteoarthritis, will be invited to join this study. Clinicians working at the researchers local NHS Trust will help the research team invite people to join the study, from the Orthopaedic Hospital and local General Practice.
The people who take part will be invited to an informal discussion (or interview) with the researcher which will last up to an hour. The person taking part can chose for this to happen over the phone, on a video call or in person.
The findings from this study will be used to decide what is important in the next stage of this ongoing project to improve information for people with elbow osteoarthritis. Information that can be individualised, is more accessible and addresses common misconceptions has the potential to improve clinical outcomes and to optimise treatment pathways for people with elbow osteoarthritis.
The study is part of an NIHR Pre-Doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship and is supported by Edge Hill University.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/SC/0088
Date of REC Opinion
1 Mar 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion