What is BOA?
Better management of patients with OsteoArthrtis (BOA) is a joint project between four geographic regions in Sweden, financed by the national social insurance office and money from the Swedish government to reduce sick leave and improve rehabilitation. BOA was initiated during 2008 due to the high costs for sick leave because of osteoarthritis, and based on the knowledge that only a minority of all patients who receive surgery because of osteoarthritis have seen a physiotherapist at any time before surgery. Nevertheless information, exercise and weight control are core treatments of osteoarthritis according to national as well as international guidelines.
The aim of BOA is to offer every patient with osteoarthritis adequate information and exercise according to the evidence-based recommendations, and that surgical interventions should only be considered if non-surgical treatment have been tried and failed. The goal is to reduce the need for health care and sick leave due to osteoarthritis, as well as increase quality of life and level of independence and physical activity among patients with osteoarthritis in hip or knee. Patients with osteoarthritis should receive equal and optimal management on the first contact with health care, independent of where this first contact is initiated.
The BOA-project involves the perspective of people with the experience of osteoarthritis and has established a close collaboration with the Swedish Rheumatism Association through the Osteoarthritis Communicator project (www.reumatikerforbundet.org).
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