Osteoarthritis: Understanding the Condition and Building Rapport with Patients

This essay explores osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint condition affecting millions worldwide. It delves into the different types of osteoarthritis, its pathophysiology, and the key differences between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The essay emphasizes the crucial role of communication skills in healthcare, particularly in building rapport with patients like Mr. Jack, a 68-year-old man diagnosed with osteoarthritis. It highlights the importance of active listening, empathy, and providing patients with options for managing their condition. The essay concludes by emphasizing the power of communication in fostering trust and promoting patient well-being.

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................2
OSTEO-ARTHRITIS AND ITS TYPES............................................................................................................2
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OSTEOARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS...............................................3
IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS............................................................................................3
STRATEGIES TO BUILD COMMUNION WITH MR. JACK............................................................................4
CONCLUSION...............................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................................6
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INTRODUCTION
Osteo-arthritis is a degenerative condition of the joints due to which the cartilage of the joint gets
eroded gradually and causes immense pain while movement (Sinusas., 2012). Osteo-arthritis is
hampering lives of millions of people all over the globe (Sinusas., 2012). It can affect any joint in the
body but it majorly affects the joints of hand, knee, hip and spine mainly (Glyn-Jones et al., 2015). It
mainly occurs in the population who prefer to live a sedentary lifestyle. It mainly affects people who are
obese, overweight or largely inactive (Glyn-Jones et al., 2015). Its main symptoms include pain, stiffness,
morning pain, swelling and a slight increased temperature of the joint. Osteo-arthritis is said to develop
in population who work in places where the joints are imposed on sustained mechanical stress (Sinusas.,
2012). As per the case study Jack a 68-year old man is diagnosed with Osteo-arthritis, he complains of
bad pain in his hips while walking for over more than five minutes. His current weight is 96kgs and
height is 176cm. his BMI is calculated as 31.
OSTEO-ARTHRITIS AND ITS TYPES
Osteo-arthritis is of three types. Namely the primary, secondary and occupational Osteo-arthritis. The
primary Osteo-arthritis is mainly caused due to some previous injury or due to obesity (Glyn-Jones et al.,
2015). It is also caused due to changes in the levels of sex hormones. It is mainly seen in women of
menopausal age group than in men of similar age (Sinusas., 2012). Secondary Osteo-arthritis occurs due
to several other reasons but the presentation is the same. Some of the reasons which result in
secondary osteo-arthritis are joint infection, ligamentous instability, leg length discrepancy, diabetes,
obesity, etc (Glyn-Jones et al., 2015). Occupational osteo-arthritis occurs in people who work in areas
where there is excessive mechanical stress over the joints (Glyn-Jones et al., 2015). People working in
standing and bent positions develop OA of knee and hip respectively.
Osteo-arthritis also called as OA is a degenerative disease which affects the water content of the
cartilage. During the initial stages of OA the collagen tissue of the matrix gets disorganized and the
proteoglycan content in the cartilage is reduced. Due to the loss of proteoglycan the collagen content is
also lost (Sinusas., 2012). Once the proteoglycan gets finished the protective action of it also vanishes
thereby making the collagen more susceptible to deteriorate (Goldring et al., 2011). The synovial capsule
of the joint gets inflamed due to the worn out tissue. This worn out tissue now has to be sent out of the
joint to the macrophages to eat them (Sinusas., 2012).
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There are many factors studied by the scientists which say may exacerbate the symptoms of OA or may
also predispose an individual towards developing the disease. The most important of all the risk factors
is the mechanical stress over the joints. There may be several reasons of mechanical stress. Such as the
mal-alignment of bones which may be caused due to congenital, pathological or biomechanical causes
(Goldring et al., 2011). Apart from this the injury caused to the joint, excessive weight, imbalance in the
strength of muscles surrounding that joint, impaired sensation in the peripheral nerves causing sudden
uncoordinated movements (Zhang et al., 2010). As per the case study Mr. Jack is overweight due to
which he has developed osteo-arthritis. The GP has advised him to lose around 10kg weight. Reducing
weight will help Mr. Jack in reducing his pain as the shear and mechanical stress over the joint will be
reduced (Goldring et al., 2011). Exercising will also prove to be beneficial as it improves the blood
circulation and also it strengthens the muscles of the joint.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OSTEOARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Osteo-arthritis is a degenerative condition which develops gradually with the process of aging (). It is
caused due to daily damage to the tissue caused by some of the biomechanical factors. It affects the
major joints of the body such as hips, knees, spine and shoulder. OA occurs due to erosion of the bony
surfaces which ride over each other because of the destruction of the cartilage (Bijlsma et al., 2011). The
statistics reveal that almost 30% of the females suffer from osteo-arthritis after the age of 65 (Loeser et
al., 2016). OA can show symptoms from minor pain to restriction of movement depending upon the
damage it has caused to the tissue (Dunn et al., 2009).
Rheumatoid arthritis is not a degenerative disease, rather it is an immunological disorder which affects
small and multiple joints of the body (Bijlsma et al., 2011). The immune system of the body produces
some antigens which itself causes harm to the body (Loeser et al., 2016). It not only affects the joints but
also shows its effect on other parts of the body (Dunn et al., 2009). The lining of the cartilage is
destructed which causes it to erode and then get inflamed causing pain and swelling (Loeser et al.,
2016). This causes development of deformity over a period of time which is irreversible. If diagnosed
early, people with rheumatoid arthritis can lead good quality life with aggressive medication (Bijlsma et
al., 2011).
IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Building of communion is one of the most effective ways to ensure good health and safety of a patient.
Developing an extra-ordinary communion is the quality of the health care professional to maintain a
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good relationship with the patients (Gudzune et al., 2013). It helps the patient feel comfortable and
open up in front of the healthcare professional about all the problems which he/she is facing. Building
rapport with the patients has proved to be advantageous as it helps develop trust among the patients
and help in providing the treatment efficiently (Dang et al., 2017).
In case of Mr. Jack it seems that he has got frustrated by listening again and again from doctors that he
needs to lose weight. On the other hand, it is seen that when these efforts are not made by the
healthcare professional the efficacy of the treatment is not much (Gudzune et al., 2013).
The healthcare professionals must ensure their patients that they are trying their level best to provide
relief to them and to make their lives better (Duggan et al.,2011). They should communicate every
minute detail through which they feel connected (Dang et al., 2017). This can be done by showing
sympathy towards them, commendation and empowering them through words.
STRATEGIES TO BUILD COMMUNION WITH MR. JACK
In order to have positive effect of the treatment over Mr. Jack first of all he must be encouraged to
follow all the directions which are given to him by the healthcare professional. The healthcare
professionals must inbuilt two habits in them as a part of their strategies. These two habits are
sympathy and active listening (Swetz et al., 2011). Sympathy is an attitude of feeling what the person
feels (Swetz et al., 2011). The healthcare professional must be sensitive enough to understand the
feelings of the patient. The patient’s feelings are different from others. The expectations of the patients
are also different from others. A healthcare professional must understand them and should act
accordingly.
Active listening refers to listening the patient carefully. In case of Mr. Jack he feels that he is not listened
by anyone and others just say him every now and them to lose weight. He feels frustrated and finds it to
be a very difficult task. Although losing weight is difficult but the healthcare professional can make this
thought a little easy for him by providing him various options of losing weight such as diet control,
walking, increasing water intake, etc (Chew et al., 2009). The healthcare professional has to convince
him so that he can listen to the ways of losing weight (Duggan et al.,2011).
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CONCLUSION
The essay provides the information of osteo-arthritis, its types, pathophysiology and the difference
between rheumatoid arthritis and osteo-arthritis. It also states the importance of communication with
the patients. Communication is the key to healing and recovery (Duggan et al.,2011). If a person
regularly talks to someone ten he/she feels connected to him/her, obeys all the things said by that
person and follows all the directions carefully. So it is important to communicate with the patients (Dang
et al., 2017). Listening and sympathy are also very important as it helps the patient develop trust over
the healthcare professionals (Dang et al., 2017).
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REFERENCES
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clinical practice. The Lancet, 377(9783), 2115-2126.
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the viscoelastic theory. Pathobiology, 76(6), 322-328.
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Swetz, K. M., Freeman, M. R., AbouEzzeddine, O. F., Carter, K. A., Boilson, B. A., Ottenberg, A. L., ... &
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