Helping people with osteoarthritis get proven self-care support through primary care and a new arthritis wellbeing network
Establishing a Collaborating Center for OACareTools PLUS (OACareTools Primary care-Led Usability & Scalability Study) and a Coordinating Center for an Arthritis Management & Wellbeing Research Network
This project will create centers to help primary care teams use OACareTools to connect people with osteoarthritis to proven self-management programs, with extra focus on Black, Latino, and rural communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180034 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have osteoarthritis, this project aims to make it easier for your primary care clinic to offer and refer you to evidence-based self-management programs like physical activity and weight management. The team will set up a collaborating center and a coordinating center within an Arthritis Management & Wellbeing Research Network to improve the usability and scalability of OACareTools in routine primary care. They will work directly with clinicians and clinics to create practical workflows, train staff, and gather patient feedback to boost counseling and referrals. Special attention will be paid to tailoring approaches to better reach Black, Latino, and rural patients and reduce disparities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with osteoarthritis who receive care at participating primary care clinics, particularly Black, Latino, or rural patients seeking non-surgical self-management options.
Not a fit: People without osteoarthritis, those not seen at participating clinics, or patients whose condition primarily requires surgical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more people with osteoarthritis could receive timely counseling and easier access to programs that reduce pain and improve function, especially in underserved communities.
How similar studies have performed: Evidence-based arthritis self-management programs and provider counseling have helped patients before, but broad implementation in primary care and scaling to underserved groups is less well tested.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ammerman, Alice S — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Ammerman, Alice S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.