Standard care
The patients in the standard care group were assessed by one of the physicians, either an OS or a resident at the arthroplasty section of the orthopedic department. The duration of the appointment was set at a maximum of 30 min, with the aim of determining whether the patient was a candidate for THA/TKA. The patient received a decision on continued care from the physician during their visit, i.e. whether they were suitable for surgical treatment or non-surgical treatment. If needed, a follow-up, by either a phone call or an appointment at the hospital, was scheduled within four weeks or up to six months after the initial assessment.