An Integrated Self Management Programme to Improve Outcomes in Patients With Hand Osteoarthritis

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand is a common and potentially disabling condition with increasing prevalence in Hong Kong due to an aging population. The direct and indirect economic burden due to OA are substantial and this calls for an unmet need for more effective management for hand OA. Hand OsteoArthritis Self-management and Integrated Scheme (OASIS-H) is a self-management programme integrated with occupational therapy and rheumatology nurse education with an aim to improve outcomes in patients with hand osteoarthritis.

Objective: This is an open-labelled, randomized controlled trial to determine the efficacy of an integrated self-management programme versus routine clinical care for participants with symptomatic hand OA.

Hypothesis: The integrated programme will be more efficacious than routine clinical care in reducing pain and improving function in symptomatic OA hand in 6 months.

Methods: Consecutive patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology Classification Criteria for hand OA with a pain score of ≥40 out of 100mm on visual analogue scale (VAS) will be included. Patient with secondary OA hand, unable to sign consent and with the use of systemic corticosteroid within 6 months will be included. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio into early intervention and routine clinical care groups. In the early intervention group, patients will participate in an eight-week integrated hand OA management programme within 1 month from randomization. The programme will consist of three self-management education sessions conducted by the occupational therapists and rheumatology nurses on pain management strategy, joint protection, group sharing and exercise, one telemedicine session, aids prescription and splintage fabrication. For patients randomized into the routine clinical care group, they will continue to receive routine medical care from the rheumatology clinic. At 6 months after randomization, patients in the routine clinical care group will crossover and receive an identical 8-week integrated hand OA management programme as the early intervention group. The primary endpoint is the change in finger pain in pain VAS at 6 months from baseline. Secondary endpoints include change in function measured by the functional index for functional index for hand OA, Short form health survey and health assessment questionnaire disability index, change in hand grip strength and dexterity at 6 months and 12 months. The primary endpoint will be analyzed by linear mixed models and the differences in pain over time between the two groups will be compared using linear regression model.

Inclusion criteria

• Fulfil the American College of Rheumatology hand osteoarthritis classification criteria
• Symptomatic hand osteoarthritis with a pain visual analogue score (VAS) equal to or more than 40/100mm within 2 weeks of study entry

Exclusion criteria

• Secondary hand osteoarthritis from inflammatory arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, psoriatic arthritis, gouty arthropathy or connective tissue diseases;
• Receive systemic corticosteroids (other than topical or inhalational) within 6 months of study entry
• Inability to sign informed consent