Slow march to surgery: using the COM-B model to explore the lived experience of individuals with knee osteoarthritis, awaiting joint replacement surgery

Clicks: 6
ID: 324369
2026
Free PDF
Article Quality & Performance Metrics
Overall Quality
Not rated
Combines reader engagement with the AI quality analysis. This article has not been analysed, so there is no overall score — reader engagement is measured and shown alongside.
AI Quality Assessment
Not analyzed
Readership in this journal

Ranked #16 of 46 articles by views in Rheumatology Advances in Practice

Most read Least read

Bar heights use a square-root scale.

Mint this article as an NFT
Not yet minted

Create a permanent, verifiable on-chain record of this article on the Scimatic Network. The NFT is held in your Journament account, and you can withdraw it to your own wallet at any time.

5 SUSD one-off · no wallet required
Sign in to mint
Abstract
Abstract Objectives This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) awaiting Total Knee Replacement (TKR). Methods Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals with a diagnosis of KOA. Transcripts were first analysed inductively with reflexive thematic analysis. Inductive themes were deductively aligned to the COM-B model (‘Capability’, ‘Opportunity’, ‘Motivation’ and ‘Behaviour’) to provide additional understanding of how individuals navigate the management of KOA and their experiences whilst awaiting surgery. Results Four inductive themes were generated and mapped into the COM-B component. (1) ‘Altered health beliefs drive a biomedical focus on KOA management’ (Capability): participants largely understood KOA as an inevitably degenerative condition culminating in surgery. (2) ‘Interactions with healthcare professionals reinforce surgical inevitability’ (Opportunity): participants described clinical encounters that strengthened their biomedical interpretations and shaped expectations of surgery as the primary solution. (3) ‘The emotional burden of KOA’ (Motivation): emotional strain contributed to decisions to pursue surgery. (4) ‘Coping strategies for managing KOA pain’ (Behaviour): participants employed a range of self-directed strategies to manage symptoms while awaiting surgery, often with limited guidance. Conclusion This study provides a novel, theory-informed understanding of how individuals awaiting TKR make sense of, engage with, and manage KOA. Using the COM-B model to map these experiences illustrates how current pathways can unintentionally weaken motivation and opportunity to engage with evidence-based first-line interventions like exercise. These findings indicate the value of supporting people with KOA to better understand and access first-line options before considering surgery.
Reference Key
openalex_W7202000929 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Nathan Brookes, Yeliz Prior, Stephen Preece, Jennifer Parker, Simone Battista
Journal Rheumatology Advances in Practice
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/rap/rkag100
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/rap/rkag100
Keywords Keywords not found

Citations

No citations found. To add a citation, contact the admin at info@scimatic.org

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment on this article.