Evaluating management strategies for osteoarthritis in an individual

When choosing and evaluating the efficacy of various interventions for osteoarthritis, it is important to consider each person’s management goals, and their perceived benefits from each intervention. Some patients experience a greater benefit from a given intervention than others, and the benefit of an intervention that has limited efficacy at the population level may be adequate for an individual’s needs.

Because of the limitations in the evidence base (eg trial design not accounting for the natural fluctuation in osteoarthritis symptoms or chronic nature of the disease, assessment of harms as a secondary outcome measure) and the variability in patient needs and responses to a given intervention, it is recommended that a trial approach is taken to the use of interventions in osteoarthritis. This involves regular assessment of an intervention against management goals to determine if the intervention is safe and of adequate and continued benefit for that individual.