Benefits of education and exercise for knee osteoarthritis

Eligible participants rate will be determined by an audit of the study database, specifically observing number of eligible volunteers (minimum of 2 participants per week. Totalling 8 participants being eligible per month).;; Recruitment rate will be determined by an audit of the study database, specifically observing a minimum recruitment rate of 5 out of 8 eligible participants recruit every four weeks.;; Adherence to education sessions will be determined by the physiotherapist on a standardised recording sheet.

This pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial will recruit 24 people with knee osteoarthritis. Consenting participants will be randomised to either a self-directed exercise-therapy (n=16) or supervised exercise-therapy (n=8). Both groups will receive a digitally support patient education through the ‘My Knee’ tool kit. The primary aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of conducting a fully powered randomised controlled trial to compare self-directed to supervised exercise-therapy for people with knee osteoarthritis. Secondary aims include: • To compare outcomes between groups, 12 weeks following treatment commencement, related to average pain, physical function, joint- and health-quality of life, exercise and physical activity participation, self-efficacy with exercise and osteoarthritis management, outcome expectations for exercise, people’s beliefs about management treatment, determinants of exercise behaviour, global rating of change and treatment satisfaction; • To explore barriers and enablers to intervention effectiveness, potential intervention and study design improvements, and other factors that might influence the participant’s adherence.