Table 3 Overview of the patient reported barriers and facilitators to use the self-management booklet

Theme 1: role of health care providers

Barriers

Lack of clear information about how to use the booklet given by the health care providers

Lack of encouragement from health care providers to use the booklet in the treatment course of OA

Patients’ doubts concerning the health care providers’ endorsement of non-surgical treatment modalities for OA

Facilitator

Encouragement from health care providers to use the booklet in the treatment course of OA

Theme 2: patient’s perceptions about OA and its manageability

Barriers

Patients’ perceptions of OA as inevitable or not curable

Patients’ perceptions that the complaints due to OA are not severe enough

Thinking that being pro-active during the treatment course is not an effective strategy to control the disease course

Facilitator

Being convinced of the importance of an active participation in the treatment course of OA

Theme 3: patient’s perceptions about the usefulness of the booklet and patient's information needs

Barriers

Patients’ perceptions that the booklet is not a useful tool to manage their OA or not being aware of the aims of the booklet

Having already sufficient knowledge about OA or sufficient support from health care providers

Not willing to know everything about OA or not paying any attention to OA

Facilitators

Patients’ perceptions that the booklet is a useful tool to manage their OA

Lack of knowledge about OA or being interested in having more information