Quality of total hip arthroplasty health care based on four years of patient-reported outcomes in the Netherlands

Abstract

Abstract Background Joint arthroplasty registries have incorporated patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to evaluate outcomes from a patients’ perspective to improve total hip arthroplasty (THA). To draw valid conclusions on PROs, a minimum response rate (RR) of 60% is advised. This study investigated (1) if the quality of THA health care based on PROs improved over the years in the Netherlands, (2) if RRs improved over the years, and (3) difference in PROs over the years in hospitals with RR ≥ 60% compared to RR 0.05). Pre-3 m RR remained equal (around 43%, p = 0.107) and pre-12 m RR decreased 9% (49% to 40%, p = 0.008). Pre-3 m subgroup RR ≥ 60% was too small to analyse (5%). No difference was found between pre-12 m subgroups (RR ≥ 60% = 16%), p > 0.05). Conclusions Quality of THA health care based on PROs seems equal in the Netherlands between 2016 and 2019. Although more hospitals participated in PRO collection, low RRs with large IQRs are observed and only 16% of the hospitals achieved the advised RR ≥ 60%. Multiple recommendations are provided to improve PRO collection and use.

Keywords

• Patient reported outcome measures
• PROMs
• Total hip arthroplasty
• Quality of health care
• Improvement