Pharmacist-physiotherapist Collaborative Management for Early Knee Osteoarthritis

Summary

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a slowly progressive chronic condition that is associated with aging and is characterized as joint pain. Individuals with early-stage OA usually do not seek medical attention. If and when they do, patients more often present to a pharmacy for over-the-counter medications. The investigators want to leverage community pharmacists' accessibility and scope of practice to best support patients with early knee OA. Given there are no disease-modifying treatments for OA, treatment guidelines center on patient education, self-management, and exercise, with medications playing a supporting role. Self-management is an effective strategy that provides a solid foundation for managing this progressive chronic condition and health care professionals like physiotherapists and pharmacists can help with the development and application of these skills.

Eligibility

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

Conditions4

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