The evaluation of patient satisfaction is becoming increasingly important in assessing treatment outcomes. The objective of this study was to analyze the determinants of treatment satisfaction in patients with trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis (TMC OA) after surgery or corticosteroid injection.
Prospective cohort study of patients with TMC OA who received surgery or corticosteroid injection was carried out. Socio-demographic and clinical data were recorded at baseline and 1 year after the intervention, and patients filled out the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ). On a 5-point Likert scale, patients reported baseline expectations, expectation fulfillment at 1 year, as well as satisfaction with the treatment result. To identify determinants of satisfaction, we entered these variables into one ordered logistic regression model for surgical patients and another for patients with injection.
We included 146 patients, 88 of whom were treated surgically. With respect to satisfaction at 1 year, 87 % of the surgical patients were somewhat or very satisfied with the treatment result, whereas only 49 % of the patients with injection were satisfied. Expectations being fulfilled was the only determinant of treatment satisfaction in the surgical group. In the injection group, a more advanced Eaton stage of TMC OA and greater pain at 1 year were associated with reduced satisfaction.
Surgery for TMC OA leads to high patient satisfaction, whereas only half of the patients treated with corticosteroid injection were satisfied with the treatment result. An advanced stage of TMC OA and higher pain lead to reduced treatment satisfaction in the latter group, indicating that corticosteroid injection is only effective for patients in a lower stage of disease. As fulfillment of expectations was an important determinant of satisfaction in the surgical group, we emphasize the need to provide comprehensive information prior to surgery, so that the patient's expectations of treatment outcome are realistic.