Exploring Patients' Motivations in Using Platelet-Rich Plasma as Their Primary Care Therapy for Managing Knee Osteoarthritis: A Focus Group Discussion

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative disease that causes pain and burden in patients. Aside from surgery, clinicians tout the potential use of platelet-rich plasma. This study explores motivation in terms of perceptions, experiences, and recommendations of KOA patients who received platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as primary care therapy. A qualitative approach via focus group discussion was conducted. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and visualized using MAXQDA. Patients' motivation for the use of PRP was based on three factors: (1) their perception of PRP as a therapy, (2) their lived experiences post-PRP therapy, and (3) their willingness to recommend PRP to others as a primary care therapy. The elements of each theme were identified and ranked based on how often the patients expressed the same thought, with willingness (f=5), alternative therapy (f=7), and pain (f=27) ranking highest. Physicians' recommendations, preference for a non-surgical approach, and later on, reduced pain and improved quality of life made them believe in the effectiveness of PRP as primary care therapy to alleviate KOA symptoms.

Keywords: biologic therapy; chronic pain management; knee osteoarthritis; platelet-rich plasma; primary care.

Figure 1.

Codification of PRP treatment to KOA based on user's perceptions, experiences, and recommendations (MAXMap).