Policy Brief on Implementing International Knee Osteoarthritis Guidelines into Swiss Practice

This policy brief builds on insights from a series of stakeholder dialogues held between May and December 2024 with 15 representatives from clinical practice, health insurance, and research. The dialogues explored challenges in implementing international guidelines for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in Switzerland, highlighting gaps between evidence and current practice.

Based on these insights and a review of scientific literature, the brief proposes three recommendations to improve KOA care:

• Implement a Model of Care featuring a consensus-based treatment algorithm aligned with international guidelines.
• Improve health literacy among individuals with KOA through targeted educational initiatives.
• Support patient navigation via evidence-based communication and shared decision-making tools.

Implementation considerations include identifying barriers and facilitators across healthcare levels, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, and establishing a monitoring system to track outcomes and adapt strategies over time.