Tailoring conservative care in osteoarthritis

This dissertation studied the care needs and treatment of people with advanced osteoarthritis. It turned out that people with osteoarthritis in several joints run a higher risk of developing serious complaints in pain, physical and psychological functioning. A feasibility study into the effectiveness of a treatment showed important differences in care needs between patients. In follow-up research this should be taken into account. It was also shown that approximately 25% of the people waiting for a new joint as a consequence of osteoarthritis deteriorate in pain and functioning. This can have negative consequences for the outcomes of the operation. For these people, the usefulness of an intensive therapeutic training prior to the surgery was investigated. Literature studies show that this type of training is not useful for young, fit persons. However, fragile, elderly persons possibly benefit from such training. Particularly this last group did not participate in the feasibility study, because they could not come to the hospital. In follow-up research, therefore, the practitioner will have to visit he patients.