Barriers and facilitators to uptake of non-surgical interventions for knee osteoarthritis: a protocol for a systematic review of qualitative studies

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Source: Frontiers Medicine

Original: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2026.1791068...

Published: 2026-02-26T00:00:00Z

Knee osteoarthritis affects millions of people worldwide and causes pain, functional limitations and reduced quality of life.[1] Clinical guidelines recommend nonsurgical interventions including exercise, weight management, and patient education as first-line treatment.[1] Despite robust evidence for the effectiveness of these interventions, uptake and adherence remain suboptimal, with many patients not receiving recommended care.[1] The aim of this systematic review is to synthesize qualitative evidence on the barriers and factors that facilitate the adoption of non-surgical interventions for osteoarthritis of the knee from the perspective of patients, healthcare providers and other stakeholders.[1] The research will search seven databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, AMED, Scopus and Web of Science) from inception to December 2025 and use thematic synthesis to identify key themes.[1] Findings will inform the development of implementation strategies, clinical pathways and patient support programs that address identified barriers and utilize facilitators.[1]