Patient and provider interventions for managing osteoarthritis in primary care: protocols for two randomized controlled trials

Kelli D Allen, Hayden B Bosworth, Dorothea S Brock, Jennifer G Chapman, Ranee Chatterjee, Cynthia J Coffman, Santanu K Datta, Rowena J Dolor, Amy S Jeffreys, Karen A Juntilla, Jennifer Kruszewski, Laurie E Marbrey, Jennifer McDuffie, Eugene Z Oddone, Nina Sperber, Mary P Sochacki, Catherine Stanwyck, Jennifer L Strauss, William S Yancy Jr

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee are among the most common chronic conditions, resulting in substantial pain and functional limitations. Adequate management of OA requires a combination of medical and behavioral strategies. However, some recommended therapies are under-utilized in clinical settings, and the majority of patients with hip and knee OA are overweight and physically inactive. Consequently, interventions at the provider-level and patient-level both have potential for improving outcomes. This manuscript describes two ongoing randomized clinical trials being conducted in two different health care systems, examining patient-based and provider-based interventions for managing hip and knee OA in primary care.