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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04698655

Influence of Osteoarthritis Information on Treatment Beliefs

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of educational information, with and without a general practitioner recommendation to exercise, on willingness to undertake exercise/physical activity for knee osteoarthritis. Eligible participants will be aged 45+ years and will not currently have osteoarthritis, knee pain, or any condition that makes them unable to exercise. Participants will be asked to complete an online survey, during which they will be randomised to one of three groups and shown different types of educational information to read. Outcome measures will be collected as part of the survey before and after participants read the educational information presented to them.

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Key information

Conditions

Osteoarthritis, Knee Arthritis Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Osteoarthritis Rheumatic Diseases

Age range

45 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

The University of Melbourne

Carlton, Victoria, 3101, Australia

About this study

3-arm superiority online randomised controlled trial (delivered within one survey). Participants will complete an online survey, during which they will be presented with a hypothetical scenario asking them to imagine that they had recently developed knee pain and have gone to see their general practitioner. Participants will then be randomised to one of 3 different groups (described below). Each group will be shown different types of educational material and asked to read the information carefully. Once they have finished reading the material, they will be asked to complete follow-up outcome measures to determine whether their beliefs about osteoarthritis management strategies have changed.

The 3 trial groups are:

I. Control group: asked to read a single-A4 page of brief osteoarthritis information ("what is osteoarthritis"); II. Treatment options group: asked to read brief osteoarthritis information + two A4 pages of information on treatment options ("osteoarthritis treatment options"), and; III. Treatment options + recommendation group: asked to read brief osteoarthritis information + information on treatment options + receive a hypothetical GP recommendation for exercise

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 45+ years

Exclusion criteria

  • Been told by a health professional that they have osteoarthritis in any joint/anywhere in the body
  • Have experienced any knee pain in the prior 3 months
  • Unable to read English
  • Have had a joint replacement in any knee or hip joint
  • Have any health condition that makes unable to exercise

Treatment and study plan

Information on treatment options

Other

Asked to read two A4 pages of information on treatment options ("osteoarthritis treatment options")

Recommendation from general practitioner

Other

Receive a hypothetical general practitioner recommendation for exercise

Information on osteoarthritis

Other

Asked to read 1 A4 page of brief information on osteoarthritis

Primary outcomes

  1. Belief that an exercise or physical activity program is the most appropriate management option for their knee

    Time frame: Immediately after reading educational information in survey

    Measured on an 11-point scale (0 = strongly disagree 10 = strongly agree)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Belief surgery, weight loss, x-rays, injections and medications are the most appropriate management options for their knee

    Time frame: Immediately after reading educational information in survey

    Measured on an 11-point scale (0 = strongly disagree 10 = strongly agree)

  2. Intentions to request a referral to an orthopedic surgeon, physiotherapist, and dietitian or to request prescription for medications, an injection, and an x-ray for their knee

    Time frame: Immediately after reading educational information in survey

    Measured on an 11-point scale (0 = definitely would not 10 = definitely would)

  3. Belief about the effectiveness of surgery, weight loss, x-rays, injections and medications for people with knee osteoarthritis

    Time frame: Immediately after reading educational information in survey

    Measured on an 11-point scale (0 = strongly disagree 10 = strongly agree)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Melbourne

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Influence of Osteoarthritis eDucational Information and General Practitioner Endorsement on ExerCISe IntentiONs, Beliefs and Willingness to Exercise: the DECISION Randomised Controlled Trial.

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2021
Study completion
2021
First posted
Jan 7, 2021
Registry last updated
Apr 28, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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