Tralee

Psoriatic arthritis PsA is a type of arthritis that causes joint swelling and stiffness, often occurring in people with the skin condition psoriasis. This study aims to understand how long patients continue treatment and how effective risankizumab RZB is compared to other advanced treatments for PsA in everyday clinical settings. The study will take place outside the United States across about 15 countries, involving between 900 and 1200 adult participants. Participants will receive either risankizumab or other biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs bDMARDs as prescribed by their doctors following local guidelines. Treatments will be given as part of regular medical care without additional interventions from the study. Participants will be followed and observed for 24 months during their routine clinical visits. During the study, participants will attend their usual medical appointments where doctors will monitor their treatment persistence and response. The main outcome measured is how many participants continue their prescribed treatment up to 24 months. There is no expected extra burden or additional procedures for participants beyond their standard care.

Researchers are evaluating a new approach called the KNEE-DEeP intervention to improve care for adults aged 35 to 69 who experience knee pain caused by degenerative meniscal tears or early osteoarthritis. This condition is common in middle-aged and older adults, and although exercise is recommended, many patients currently receive surgery referrals instead of physiotherapy. The study aims to test whether the KNEE-DEeP program can be delivered as planned and is acceptable to patients, general practitioners GPs, and physiotherapists before conducting a larger trial. The intervention involves training GPs and physiotherapists through educational workshops to enhance their consultations and care delivery. Patients will receive an enhanced consultation from their GP, including a physical exam, education, written information, and a treatment plan. They will also have early access to a single best practice physiotherapy session focusing on self-management strategies, goal setting, and exercise prescription within two weeks of referral. The study is a single-arm feasibility trial conducted in general practices and a hospital physiotherapy department in Ireland. Participants will be followed for six months with assessments at the start, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. Researchers will collect data on physical function, knee pain, pain self-efficacy, fear avoidance beliefs, quality of life, satisfaction with care, exercise adherence, healthcare use, and pain medication changes. Questionnaires and interviews with patients, GPs, and physiotherapists will evaluate the interventions acceptability and feasibility. The total study duration for each patient is six months, with recruitment planned over six months and completion expected 12 months after starting.