Table 3.

Barriers to Use of the Term Osteoarthritis and the Discussion of Osteoarthritis Identified in This Study

The predominance of the societal construct of OA that suggests it is part of normal life/aging process

Omission of OA in the UK government-led quality of care initiative

Limited or uneven access to treatment resources such as physical therapy

Lack of knowledge about the prognosis of OA

Lack of clear language for positive diagnosis and explanation of OA

Inconsistent interpretation of language in radiology reports

Concern that diagnosis may result in harm or adoption of “sick role”

OA = Osteoarthritis; UK = United Kingdom