What factors are important in determining wait-list priority for those awaiting hip and knee replacement?
Invitation to participate / Information sheet for patients
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has led to large increases in the time that people are having to wait for hip and knee replacement once it has been decided they should undergo surgery.
Historically the main factor that has decided priority for surgery was the time that the patient has waited for their operation. There are however other factors that should also perhaps be considered (for example quality of life whilst living with arthritis or return to work requirements).
Given the very long waits that people are now experiencing for surgery (more than two years in some situations), we feel it is important to work out which factors should be included when deciding which individuals should be prioritised.
We are therefore looking for the help of people currently on the waiting list for hip and knee replacement, or have had one of these operations performed in the last 2 years to help us answer this important question as part of a research study led by the University of Aberdeen.
This process will involve working with surgeons to complete 3 online surveys sent out over a couple of months that will help us to decide what factors should be included in prioritising those waiting for hip and knee replacement.
The first survey will look at what factors people think should potentially be included for determining priority. The second and third surveys will then ask people to decide how important they think these factors are based on their own opinions and anonymised feedback from others. Each survey should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete. There is no need for any previous experience of research to take part.
As part of the study, some basic information about you and your background will be collected. All information collected about you and your opinions will be kept strictly confidential and securely stored. As part of the study information will be securely shared between Clinvivo Ltd (the company supplying the software for the surveys), and the University of Aberdeen (where the information will be analysed).
The Chief Investigator for the study is Mr G.P. Ashcroft.
Register for the study
Please note that registration is now closed as this project phase has been completed.
This study sets out to try and determine which factors (for example age, working status, pain levels) should be used to decide how patients can be better prioritised for hip and knee replacement surgery.
You have been invited on the basis of your involvement with one of our team of collaborators, or have previously registered interest in taking part through our social media campaign.
No. It is up to you to decide whether to take part. A decision to not participate will not affect your clinical care in any way. If you do decide to take part then you should click the link on the first page of this information sheet. This will take you to the survey homepage which provides further details about the logistics of taking part. You will be asked to tick a box to confirm that you consent to participate during the initial stages of the questionnaire. If you decide to take part you are free to withdraw at any time and without giving a reason.
In total there will be three online surveys to complete over a period of a few months. Each survey should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete and will be accessible for a couple of weeks at a time. At the end of the first two surveys anonymised feedback will be sent out based on the responses received to help guide the decision making regarding the next set of survey questions.
You will get the opportunity to have your voice heard, and help guide decision making regarding the future prioritisation of individuals who are awaiting hip and knee replacement surgery. At the end of the study all participants will be sent a summary sheet containing the findings and links to any reports published.
The study has been reviewed by the University of Aberdeen Institute of Applied Health Science School Ethics Review Board and approved on 22/03/2022 - Reference number SERB/2021/12/2210.
