Continuous Improvements of a Clinical Pathway Increased Its Feasibility and Improved Care Providers' Perception in TKA

PURPOSE: We aimed to determine 1) whether dropout rate decreased and 2) whether health care providers' perceptions were changed with continued improvements of contents of clinical pathway (CP) for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included two separate analyses of patients and health care providers. In the analysis of patients, dropout rates and reasons were evaluated in two cohorts of patients who underwent TKA with CP applied at two different time periods (384 patients from 2009 to 2010 and 242 patients from 2012 to 2013). Contents of CP were continuously improved during the 3-year interval. Self-administered questionnaire surveys targeted to health care providers were carried out twice (2010 and 2013) and compared. RESULTS: Dropout rate decreased from 19.1% in the first time period to 10.4% in the second time period. Although overall satisfaction of care providers was high at both time-points, doctors had more favorable perceptions than nurses; most positive changes of perception were noted in nurses. The health care providers' perceptions for potential concerns of CP were improved while the perceptions for potential benefits and satisfaction were maintained. CONCLUSIONS: Continuously improved CP has increased feasibility for TKA patients and reduced health care providers' concern about its value. We propose that CP can be implemented and actively used to improve the outcomes and efficacy of patient care for TKA, regardless of the rotation of care providers.