An Anthropological Perspective on the Experiences of Osteoarthritis in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, and South Yorkshire, England

Abstract

This research studies the experience of both being diagnosed and living with osteoarthritis. I conducted this research looking to understand whether and how societal norms affected medical treatment of the disease. The research mostly focuses on the Greater Toronto Area, Canada, with a small comparative section on South Yorkshire. Three key themes were discovered and analyzed throughout the research. The first theme is lived experiences of osteoarthritis, which focuses on the concepts of pain and loss. The second key theme is the interrelation of responsibilization, medicalization, and moralization. This involves how patients rationalize the causes of their own osteoarthritis and sometimes how these compare to others. The third theme is Doctor-Patient interactions. Participants explained their experience interacting with medical professionals about their osteoarthritis, and analysis highlights how these interactions influence the participant’s perception of their condition and their own health. Osteoarthritis is well understood from a biological perspective; however, this is only one element in medical treatment. It is hoped in this research that the consideration of lived experiences by medical professionals will improve flaws in the communication of osteoarthritis management and treatment.