Pharmacist and physiotherapist care for early knee osteoarthritis
Pharmacist-physiotherapist Collaborative Management for Early Knee Osteoarthritis
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
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 125 (estimated) |
| Ages | 50 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Alberta Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Sherwood Park, Alberta) |
| Trial ID | NCT06681142 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
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.
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.
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 performed: 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.
Eligibility criteria
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 knee surgery * history of acute knee injury (6 months) * unable or unwilling to attend physiotherapy * previous physician diagnoses of inflammatory arthritis or fibromyalgia * unable to speak/ read English
Where this trial is running
Sherwood Park, Alberta
- Mint Health & Drugs Festival Place 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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.