Knowledge Translation and Exercise for Degenerative Meniscal Tears and Early Osteoarthritis: KNEE-DEeP Study

Summary

Knee pain due to a degenerative meniscal tear (DMT) or early osteoarthritis (OA) is a frequent presentation in middle-aged and older adults. In the knee joint a DMT can occur normally with age, but is also associated with the continuum of knee OA. Exercise is recommended as the main treatment to aid recovery, while an arthroscopy (camera in the knee) to remove torn cartilage does not provide any additional benefit. Despite this many patients in Ireland with this type of knee pain are referred to an orthopaedic surgeon by their GP, and do not receive recommended care from their physiotherapist.

The first phase of this project designed the KNEE-DEeP (Knowledge Translation and Exercise for Early Degenerative Knee Pain) intervention to deliver better care to patients with DMT and early OA. The overall aim of this feasibility study is to test the KNEE-DEeP intervention to ensure it can be delivered as planned and it is acceptable to patients, and health care professionals (HCPs) involved in intervention delivery; GPs and physiotherapists. This is in preparation for carrying out a larger future trial.

As part of the intervention, GPs and physiotherapists will receive an educational workshop. Patient participants in turn will receive an 'enhanced consultation' from their participating GP and a 'best practice' physiotherapy session focusing on strategies to enhance self-management. This approach will be tested out by enrolling 15 GPs, five physiotherapist and 36 patients in the feasibility study. Patients will be followed up after 12 weeks and six months to track their progress. As part of the evaluation all GPs, physiotherapists and patients will complete questionnaires and a sub-set will provide more in-depth feedback via interviews conducted over the phone or online.

Conditions

• Osteoarthritis, Knee
• Meniscus; Degeneration

Interventions

OTHER

KNEE-DEeP intervention- Knowledge translation and exercise for early degenerative knee pain

The intervention for health care professionals (GPs and physiotherapists) will consist of training and education. The two-hour educational workshop for GPs will focus on diagnosis and management of patients with early degenerative knee pain, and enhancing communication skills. Training for physiotherapists will focus on delivery of a 'best practice' session. The patient participant intervention will consist of an 'enhanced consultation' delivered by the GP. This will involve a physical exam, key educational messages, written information and a treatment plan. Patients will receive a single session of physiotherapy within 2 weeks of referral from their GP. This 'best practice' session will focus on self-management skills, targeted patient education, goal setting, action planning and exercise prescription.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Health Research Board, Ireland

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Limerick

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Helen O'Leary, BSc Physio · University of Limerick

• Karen McCreesh, BSc Physio · University of Limerick

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

35 Years

Max Age

69 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-06-01

Primary Completion

2024-12-31

Completion

2025-02-28

Countries

• Ireland

Study Locations