Implementing a Guideline-based Model of Care for Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis in Finland. A Benchmarking-controlled Trial (FIN-OA)

University of Jyväskylä

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Osteoarthritis of the Hip or Knee

Treatments: Behavioral: Implementation of a guideline-based model of care for hip and knee osteoarthritis

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06904885

263/13.00.04.00/2025

Details and patient eligibility

About

This project aims to bridge the gap between guideline recommendations and clinical practice in osteoarthritis (OA) management. By implementing a systematic, evidence-based model of care, the project seeks to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and provide equitable access to care. The project consists of three phases. In the first phase the current OA care is mapped through registry review and questionnaires and interviews of patients and healthcare professionals. In the second, implementation phase of the project, a plan will be created how to support healthcare professionals in delivering care according to the new model of care and training and support will be offered according to the plan. In the third phase of the project, the implementation success will be evaluated, and the costs of OA care evaluated and compared to baseline data. In addition, patient-reported data will be collected from those patients, who participate in the group-based exercise and education program.

Full description

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a growing global health challenge, due to the significant increase in prevalence of knee and hip OA. In Finland, OA care costs are substantial, driven by diagnostic procedures, medical treatments, and indirect costs such as work absenteeism. The international guidelines recommend education, exercise, and weight management as first-line treatment options, but adherence to guidelines is inconsistent. This project aims to explore regional differences in OA care and beliefs and OA care practices in Finland. In addition, we will implement and evaluate a guideline-based model of care for hip and knee OA, that includes the Good Life with osteoarthritis from Denmark (GLA:D®) program as the preferred non-surgical management option in local care pathways. In addition, the aim is to share evidence-based OA knowledge and management skills nationwide.

This study is a hybrid type-3 benchmarking-controlled implementation trial. It is nested in primary healthcare in two Wellbeing Services Counties. The study includes three phases: pre-implementation, implementation, and evaluation. The pre-implementation activities include mapping the current OA care through registry review (healthcare utilization and costs from 2019-2024). In addition questionnaires and interviews of patients and healthcare professionals (beliefs and practices) will be conducted. Planned activities of the implementation phase include developing and integrating a new model of care (including GLA:D®) into local care pathways, and training physiotherapists to deliver it. Implementation theories and multifaceted implementation strategies will be used and adapted locally. The activities to evaluate the process include assessment of the implementation outcomes on healthcare professional and organizational levels, healthcare resource utilization and cost outcomes (1, 3 and 5 years) using registry data. In addition outcomes reported by patients participating in the GLA:D program will be collected at 3 months and 1, 3 and 10 years.

This project aims to bridge the gap between guideline-recommended OA-management and clinical practice. By implementing a systematic, evidence-based model of care, the study seeks to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and provide equitable access to care. The findings will inform future OA care strategies and will be disseminated and adapted to other healthcare contexts in Finland and can be adapted also internationally. The findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented in national and international conferences.

Enrollment: 10,000 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Data from national registries:

• Patients with diagnosed OA (ICD-10 / ICPC2)
• age over 18 years

Collection of GLA:D patient-reported outcomes:

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients who are participating in theGLA:D program, diagnosed with hip or knee osteoarthritis, fluent in finnish
• age over 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other than OA-related cause of symptoms
• not able to answer the questionnaires in Finnish
• no access to a computer or mobile device to answer the questionnaires

Trial design

10,000 participants in 4 patient groups

Patients participating GLA:D program

GLA:D -trained physiotherapists

Treatment:

Behavioral: Implementation of a guideline-based model of care for hip and knee osteoarthritis

Registry data from national registries (pre)

Description:

Data of people with hip or knee OA from national registries from all Wellbeing Services Counties in Finland before the implementation of new model of care.

Registry data from national registries (post)

Description:

Data of people with hip or knee OA from national registries from all Wellbeing Services Counties in Finland after the implementation of new model of care.