Pharmacist and physiotherapist care for early knee osteoarthritis
Official title: Pharmacist-physiotherapist Collaborative Management for Early Knee Osteoarthritis
Run by University of Alberta · NCT06681142 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether pharmacist-led screening and referral combined with physiotherapy can help people over 50 with early knee osteoarthritis manage pain and improve function.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 50 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 125 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Alberta Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Sherwood Park, Alberta) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 13, 2025 |
| Main results expected | December 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 1, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 27, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06681142 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
People aged 50 or older who have had regular knee pain, aching, or stiffness for at least one month, can speak and read English, have no prior knee surgery or recent acute knee injury, and are willing and able to attend physiotherapy.
✕Probably not a fit
People with prior knee surgery, a recent acute knee injury, physician-diagnosed inflammatory arthritis or fibromyalgia, those unable or unwilling to attend physiotherapy, or those who cannot read/speak English are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Community pharmacists will identify people with probable early knee OA using posters, shelf talkers, and targeted questions during routine pharmacy visits, then obtain consent and enroll eligible participants. Enrolled participants complete baseline assessments (including the KOOS, demographics, medical history, and medication use) in the pharmacy or online. The intervention pairs pharmacist-delivered education and self-management support with referral to physiotherapy for individualized exercise and care. Outcomes focus on symptoms and function to see if this collaborative, pharmacy-based pathway improves early management.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve early access to exercise-based care and self-management support, reducing pain and improving function for people with early knee OA.
How similar studies have gone: Exercise and self-management programs for knee OA have shown benefit, but combining pharmacist-led screening with physiotherapy referral is a relatively novel and less-studied approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * regularly experiencing pain, aching, or stiffness in and/or around the knee for at least 1 month * complete the screening PhIT-OA questionnaire Exclusion Criteria: * Prior total knee replacement or on the waitlist to have your knee replaced * Knee surgery within the previous 4 months * History of acute injury to knee within previous 6 months * Unable to speak and read English * Unwilling or unable to visit a physiotherapist at a community physiotherapy clinic (specifically the dates and times of the partnering physiotherapy clinic) * Previous physician-diagnosed inflammatory arthritis (including this list): Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Lupus, Gout * Physician diagnosed fibromyalgia * A sudden, severely painful, hot, swollen joint at any time in the past * History of the following medications: csDMARD or bDMARD or tsDMARD, Immunosuppressive, Allopurinol or febuxostat, Colchicine * Received a knee joint injection in the past 3 months or have one scheduled in the next 3 months * Has completed the GLA:D Hip and Knee program at all in the past
Where it's running
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Mint Health & Drugs Sherwood Park
Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Ross Tsuyuki — University of Alberta
- Study coordinator: Allyson Jones
- Email: cajones@ualberta.ca
- Phone: 780-492-2020
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Medial knee osteoarthritis: inside vs outside corticosteroid injection
This study tests whether injecting a steroid inside the knee joint leads to different pain results than injecting it on the outside of the knee in people with medial knee osteoarthritis.
-
Platelet-rich plasma added to hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis
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Hyaluronic Acid Plus PRP Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis
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Choose to Move Replacement Ready for OA patients waiting for hip or knee replacement
This program tests a tailored, online version of a 3-month activity and social-connection plan for older adults with hip or knee osteoarthritis who are waiting for joint replacement surgery to see if it improves physical activity and health while they wait.
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.