HOOS Questionnaire

What is osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease primarily affecting the cartilage, the protective tissue at the ends of bones. As the cartilage wears down over time, it can lead to hip pain, stiffness, and reduced physical function. In particular, hip osteoarthritis can significantly impact a person’s daily living and overall quality of life. Individuals may experience hip symptoms such as joint stiffness, swelling, and difficulty maintaining hip position during activities.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis

The symptoms of osteoarthritis often include hip joint stiffness, pain, and swelling, which can significantly impact physical function. Individuals with hip OA may experience hip disability, affecting their daily activities and overall hip-related quality of life. These symptoms can become severe enough to warrant consideration of treatments such as hip replacement surgery or total hip replacement.

How does this impact the hip?

The symptoms of osteoarthritis can severely impact the hip by causing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. This leads to difficulty maintaining hip position, performing daily activities, and sustaining physical function. Hip joint stiffness and discomfort can hinder walking, standing, and other movements, ultimately affecting the individual's quality of life. Over time, persistent hip disability may necessitate medical interventions such as physical therapy or, in severe cases, hip replacement surgery to restore function and alleviate pain.

What is the HOOS Questionnaire?

The HOOS Questionnaire, or Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, is a 40-item tool designed to assess patient-relevant outcomes in individuals with hip disability and osteoarthritis. It evaluates five subscales: pain, symptoms, activity of daily living, sports and recreational function, and hip-related quality of life. This osteoarthritis outcome score is crucial for monitoring the impact of hip OA and guiding treatment decisions.

Patients should expect to provide honest and detailed responses, as this will help healthcare practitioners accurately evaluate the severity of their osteoarthritis and the effectiveness of any treatments, including potential total hip replacement.

How is this scored, and how are the results interpreted?

The HOOS Questionnaire is scored by assigning points to each of the 40 items, with responses graded from 0 to 4. Each question offers standardized answer options in five Likert boxes, ranging from "no" to "extreme." The scores for each response are as follows: 0 points for "extreme," 1 point for "severe," 2 points for "moderate," 3 points for "mild," and 4 points for "no." The scores from the five subscales are combined.

The total score is then converted to a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 represents the worst possible hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome, and 100 indicates the best possible outcome.

How to use our HOOS Questionnaire template

The HOOS Questionnaire template by Carepatron is a valuable tool for medical professionals to assess hip disability and osteoarthritis outcomes in patients. Here are the steps in using the questionnaire:

Step 1: Access the template

To access the HOOS Questionnaire template, you can download it from this page or login to your Carepatron account and navigate to the templates gallery.

Step 2: Review the questionnaire template

Before administering the questionnaire, review the template thoroughly. Familiarize yourself with the 40 items and the five subscales. Understanding these sections will help you guide the patient through the questionnaire effectively.

Step 3: Use the questionnaire to assess the patient

During the patient consultation, provide the HOOS Questionnaire and explain its purpose. Instruct the patient to answer each question honestly, based on their recent experiences. Ensure they understand the Likert scale options, ranging from "no" to "extreme," to capture their hip disability and osteoarthritis symptoms accurately.

Step 4: Score the test and review the results

After the patient completes the questionnaire, score each item by assigning points from 0 to 4. Sum the scores for each subscale and convert the total to a scale of 0 to 100. Review the results to gauge the severity of the patient's hip-related issues and determine the impact on their daily activities and quality of life.

Step 5: Educate the patient on the next steps

Discuss the results with the patient, explaining what the scores indicate about their hip disability and osteoarthritis. Use this information to educate the patient on potential treatment options, lifestyle modifications, and the benefits of interventions such as physical therapy or, if necessary, total hip replacement.

Benefits of using this questionnaire

The HOOS Questionnaire is an essential tool for assessing hip disability and osteoarthritis outcomes in patients. Its structured approach provides valuable insights to enhance treatment planning and patient care. Here are three key benefits of using this questionnaire:

Comprehensive assessment of hip function

The HOOS Questionnaire offers a detailed evaluation of hip function by addressing various aspects of hip stiffness and pain. By providing outcome measures through specific subscales, healthcare practitioners can gain a clearer understanding of how much difficulty patients experience in daily activities.

Reliable outcomes

Using the HOOS Questionnaire contributes to outcomes research by generating valuable patient conditions data. The osteoarthritis outcome scores, including the summary hip impact scores, enable practitioners to track progress over time and compare results across different patient populations. It can also be used alongside other assessment tools, such as the Oxford Hip Score (OHS) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).  

Early detection of extreme symptoms

The HOOS Questionnaire effectively identifies extreme symptoms associated with osteoarthritis cartilage deterioration. By highlighting these symptoms early, healthcare practitioners can implement timely interventions to prevent further joint damage and improve patient quality of life.

How healthcare professionals treat osteoarthritis of the hip

Healthcare professionals treat hip osteoarthritis through a combination of non-surgical and surgical interventions tailored to the patient's needs. Initially, conservative treatments may include physical therapy, pain management, and lifestyle modifications to address hip pain and improve mobility. Orthopedic surgeons may recommend hip arthroscopy or primary hip treatments for patients experiencing difficulties spreading their legs wide or significant joint deterioration. If conservative measures fail, total hip arthroplasty is often considered.