Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the addition of a consumer e-learning course to verbal information on OA and a home strengthening exercise programme prescribed by a physiotherapist enhances pain and/or physical function outcomes at 24 weeks in people with knee OA. Primary outcomes are (i) severity of knee pain while walking (11-point numeric rating scale) at 24 weeks and (ii) physical function at 24 weeks using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index subscale. Secondary outcomes include measures of knee-related quality of life; sport and recreation; self-efficacy for exercise; pain self-efficacy; physical activity levels; OA knowledge; perceptions of OA (illness perceptions); fear of movement; belief in the inevitability of needing a knee joint replacement; global rating of change; satisfaction with treatment; exercise adherence; and use of recommended OA self-management approaches and oral pain medication. METHODS: Two-arm parallel-design superiority randomised controlled trial. One hundred thirty-six community dwelling Australian adults with clinically diagnosed knee OA will be randomly allocated into one of two groups: (i) verbal OA education and a home strengthening programme (control) or (ii) the same intervention plus access to a freely available 4-module e-learning course on OA and its recommended management (e-learning group). Both groups will receive the same scripted verbal OA information and a lower limb strengthening programme over two 30-min video consultations with a physiotherapist over six weeks. Those in the e-learning group will receive access to the e-learning course from their physiotherapist. Primary outcomes are (i) severity of knee pain while walking (11-point numeric rating scale) at 24 weeks and (ii) physical function at 24 weeks using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index subscale. Secondary outcomes include measures of knee-related quality of life; sport and recreation; self-efficacy for exercise; pain self-efficacy; physical activity levels; OA knowledge; perceptions of OA (illness perceptions); fear of movement; belief in the inevitability of needing a knee joint replacement; global rating of change; satisfaction with treatment; exercise adherence; and use of recommended OA self-management approaches and oral pain medication. CONCLUSION: This RCT evaluates whether supplementing physiotherapy care with consumer-focused e-learning improves outcomes for people with knee OA.