Task Shifting in the Care for Patients With Hand Osteoarthritis

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

400 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2017-09-14

Study Completion Date

2020-11-14

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The main aim in this randomized controlled trial is to improve access to safe and effective care, professional practice and cost-effective utilisation of health care resources by testing if occupational therapist-led care is as effective and safe as rheumatologist-led care for people with hand osteoarthritis.

Related Clinical Trials

Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.

Hand Exercises for Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Impaired ADL Ability: an Exploratory Trial

NCT02140866

Rheumatoid Arthritis

COMPLETED NA

Happy Hands - an E-self-management Intervention for People With Hand Osteoarthritis

NCT05568875

Hand Osteoarthritis

COMPLETED NA

Happy Hands E-self-management Pilot Study

NCT05150171

Hand Osteoarthritis

COMPLETED NA

Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis(RCT)

NCT00400868

Rheumatoid Arthritis

COMPLETED NA

Patient Enablement in Osteoarthritis - a Longitudinal Study on Patient Education Programs in Primary Health Care

NCT02974036

Patient Education as Topic Osteoarthritis

COMPLETED

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Hand osteoarthritis is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions in an adult population, and may have large influences on an individual's function, health related quality of life, and participation in the society. In the absence of disease-modifying interventions, occupational therapy, comprising information, hand exercises, assistive devices and orthoses/splints, is considered as core treatment. In Norway, people with hand osteoarthritis are increasingly referred to consultation by a rheumatologist in specialist health care. At the same time a shortage of rheumatologists nationwide is stressing the healthcare system's capacity, and rheumatologists time should therefore primarily be allocated to patients in which early diagnosis and medical treatment are essential.

The World Health Organization recommend task-shifting as one method of strengthening and expanding the health workforce. Such models rely on other healthcare providers in expanded clinical roles, where physiotherapists, nurses or occupational therapists working in collaboration with physicians and other team members have their own patients for whom they provide health care services.

In this randomized controlled trial, we will test if a new model, where patients referred to consultation in specialist health care receive their first consultation by an occupational therapy specialist, is as safe and effective as the traditional model, where they receive their first consultation by a rheumatologist.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Osteoarthritis Both Hands

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

In this randomized controlled trial, participants will be allocated to receive their first consultation in specialist health care by either an occupational therapy specialist or a rheumatologist. The occupational therapist may thereafter refer the patient to a consultation with a rheumatologist if necessary, and vice versa.

Primary Study Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Investigators Outcome Assessors

The research assistant who will examine the participants at baseline and follow-ups and the statistician who perform the main effect analysis will be blinded for group allocation.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Control

Patients in the control group will receive their first consultation in specialist health care by a rheumatologist. Rheumatologist-led care comprises confirmation of diagnosis, information about hand osteoarthritis and symptom modifying medication, and, for some patients, Intra-articular injection of long-acting Corticosteroid. The rheumatologist may also refer participants to occupational therapy if needed.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Rheumatologist-led care.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Rheumatologist-led care comprises confirmation of diagnosis, information about hand osteoarthritis and symptom modifying medication, and, for some patients, Intra-articular injection of long-acting Corticosteroid.

The rheumatologist may also refer participants to occupational therapy if needed.

Intervention

Patients in the intervention group will receive their first consultation in specialist health care by an occupational therapy specialist. Occupational therapist-led care comprises confirmation of diagnosis, information about hand osteoarthritis and symptom modifying medication, teaching of hand exercises and ergonomic working methods, and, for some patients, provision assistive devices and orthoses/splints. The occupational therapist will refer patients to a short rheumatologist consultation if confirmation of diagnosis or intra-articular injections of long-acting Corticosteroid are needed.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Occupational therapist-led care.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Occupational therapist-led care comprises confirmation of diagnosis, information about hand osteoarthritis and symptom modifying medication, teaching of hand exercises and ergonomic working methods, and, for some patients, provision assistive devices and orthoses/splints. The occupational therapist will refer patients to a short rheumatologist consultation if confirmation of diagnosis or intra-articular injections of long-acting Corticosteroid are needed.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Rheumatologist-led care.

Rheumatologist-led care comprises confirmation of diagnosis, information about hand osteoarthritis and symptom modifying medication, and, for some patients, Intra-articular injection of long-acting Corticosteroid.

The rheumatologist may also refer participants to occupational therapy if needed.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Occupational therapist-led care.

Occupational therapist-led care comprises confirmation of diagnosis, information about hand osteoarthritis and symptom modifying medication, teaching of hand exercises and ergonomic working methods, and, for some patients, provision assistive devices and orthoses/splints. The occupational therapist will refer patients to a short rheumatologist consultation if confirmation of diagnosis or intra-articular injections of long-acting Corticosteroid are needed.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Hand osteoarthritis diagnosed by physician in primary care, referred for consultation in specialist health care, and ability to communicate in Norwegian.

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

100 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No