Pharmacist-Physiotherapist Collaborative Management for Early Knee Osteoarthritis to Improve Patient Outcomes

What this Trial Is About

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is a chronic, slowly progressing condition linked to aging and marked by joint pain. People with early-stage OA often do not seek medical care, instead turning to pharmacies for over-the-counter remedies. Researchers are exploring how community pharmacists, who are accessible healthcare providers, can support patients with early knee OA through education, self-management, and exercise, alongside medication review and physiotherapy referrals. In this study, pharmacists will identify patients with knee pain through in-pharmacy posters and direct questioning of those at risk. Eligible participants aged 50 and older with knee pain lasting at least one month will be enrolled and randomized into two groups. One group receives usual care involving brief pharmacist assessment and educational materials, while the other group receives a comprehensive pharmacist assessment, medication review, education, and referral to physiotherapy. Physiotherapy options include individual sessions or a group-based exercise and education program called GLA:D, offered within six weeks. Participants will complete baseline assessments including knee pain questionnaires, medical and lifestyle history, and self-management measures either in the pharmacy or online. Follow-ups are planned at 3 and 6 months to measure disease-specific outcomes and patient activation. Pharmacists will communicate with participants' primary care physicians about the diagnosis and study participation. The study aims to evaluate self-reported knee OA outcomes and activation measures, with participant involvement lasting several months.

Pharmacist-physiotherapist Collaborative Management for Early Knee Osteoarthritis