Knee Osteoarthristis
Conditions
Keywords
knee osteoarthritis, mobile application, self-directed rehabilitation, mHealth
Brief summary
Symptomatic osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee affects approximately one-fifth (\ 300K) of Singaporeans aged 50 years or older, with the disease prevalence increasing with age. Patients with advanced knee OA and severe disability often require a total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. With an ageing population and the high prevalence of obesity, the annual number of TKRs is projected to rise. Thus, innovative care models are urgently needed to improve patient outcomes while managing or reducing the economic burden of this common and costly public health problem. Unmet Need: Conservative treatment through physiotherapy rehabilitation is a key intervention, but significant access limitations result in unnecessary TKRs. For patients with knee OA, consensus guidelines are unanimous in recommending education, exercise, and weight management (if required) as first-line interventions. Physiotherapy rehabilitation incorporates these three first-line interventions and is a widely advocated and evidence-based component of OA management. Despite this, international evidence suggests that these core interventions are often under-utilized, with only 20-40% of community-dwelling older adults with knee OA receiving them. Locally and worldwide, suboptimal care from rehabilitation non-attendance is prevalent and costly: available research suggests that at least a quarter of TKRs could have been avoided with optimal care. Thus, to reduce the economic burden of OA, there is a need to develop innovative and flexible rehabilitation strategies. A mobile health (mHealth)-based program is a likely solution to address this unmet need, but local contextualization is needed. Against this background, an mHealth-based OA self-management program may be a feasible solution to deliver guideline-based interventions, with minimal involvement by healthcare professionals. Whilst several app- or web-based OA self-management programs are available, few have undergone rigorous randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluation, and still fewer provide detailed instructions to enable self-directed exercise (in particular, muscle strengthening exercises) - despite the evidence that exercise is the cornerstone of knee OA management. Furthermore, the reach and adoption of these programs in Singapore is limited as they are designed for English-speaking patients from Western cultures. Hence, whilst there are potential benefits in harnessing technology-enabled programs, these data emphasize the need for local co-design and adaptation to suit the Singapore context and to facilitate adoption. Thus, the investigators have, through an iterative user-centered design process, developed Managing Osteoarthritis of the Knee using Therapist Technology Optimized Rehabilitation (MOKneeTOR), a blended digital rehabilitation program integrating an initial face-to-face physiotherapy assessment and an mHealth-enabled exercise and self-management program designed to promote first-line interventions (education, exercise, and weight management where indicated) for patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Detailed description
Study Hypotheses Primary hypothesis: The MOKneeTOR program will be non-inferior to hospital-based physiotherapy rehabilitation at 3 and at 6 months in improving physical function (fast gait speed). Secondary hypothesis: The MOKneeTOR program will be more cost-effective than hospital-based physiotherapy rehabilitation in reducing total OA-related costs. Approach and Methods This will be an assessor-blinded, parallel design, non-inferiority randomized controlled trial, with assessments done at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after randomization. The protocol conforms to the CONSORT guidelines for eHealth interventions and non-inferiority RCTs. Participants Study participants will be recruited from a large pool of patients who are referred by orthopaedic surgeons for conservative physiotherapy management in Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Informed, written consent by each participant will be obtained. Study treatments, but not the study hypotheses, will be disclosed to participants; therefore, participants will be unaware of the hypothesized direction of effect. Randomization To maintain allocation concealment, randomization will be undertaken only after completion of baseline outcome assessment. Participants will be randomized using minimal sufficient balance (MSB) randomization, a covariate-adaptive randomization method designed to ensure covariate balance on the key variables of age, sex, treating physiotherapists, and baseline knee pain intensity. The first 20 patients will be allocated in a 1:1 ratio to MOKneeTOR program or outpatient physiotherapy rehabilitation program using simple randomization, after which the computer-generated MSB algorithm will be activated. To support an exploration of potential mechanisms through which our MOKneeTOR mobile app improves management adherence, participants randomized to the MOKneeTOR program will undergo a second randomization (1:1) to receive either (i) MOKneeTOR with the standard MOKneeTOR app configuration or (ii) MOKneeTOR with enhanced personalization of the MOKneeTOR app (e.g., personalized UI such as tailored caricature, preferred colour scheme and customizable chatbot settings that allow patients to choose between concise or detailed replies). Notably, this 2:1:1 design will optimize our ability to assess the overall effects of the MOKneeTOR program relative to outpatient physiotherapy rehabilitation program while also allow an exploration of potential mechanistic effects of the MOKneeTOR app. Participants randomized to MOKneeTOR program may optionally nominate one adult support person (SP) (e.g., family member/friend) to receive access to an SP version of the MOKneeTOR mobile app. The SP app is a subset of the patient app and is intended to (i) improve SP's knee OA knowledge and (ii) support SP's efforts in supporting the participant's self-management. The SP app displays the participant's progress summaries (exercise and physical activity frequency) and delivers informational and encouragement messages to the SP. Participation of an SP is optional and does not affect the participant's clinical care or trial participation.
Interventions
DEVICEMOKneeTOR with standard app configuration
Participants allocated to the MOKneeTOR program will receive 24 week access to the MOKneeTOR app. To onboard participants on the use of the MOKneeTOR app, the MOKneeTOR program is designed to include an in-person outpatient session, during which the physiotherapist will guide participants through the system. Importantly, based on assessment findings and data input by the physiotherapist, the MOKneeTOR app will utilize a care stratification approach by selecting educational materials tailored to the participant's needs. Participants randomized to MOKneeTOR program may optionally nominate one adult support person (SP) (e.g., family member/friend) to receive access to an SP version of the MOKneeTOR mobile app. The SP app is a subset of the patient app and is intended to (i) improve SP's knee OA knowledge and (ii) support SP's efforts in supporting the participant's self-management.
OTHERHospital-based outpatient rehabilitation program
Participants will attend, over a 12-week period, a minimum of 3 outpatient physiotherapy sessions, with up to 3 additional sessions if patients are deemed to require them. During the sessions, participants will receive patient education, exercises, manual therapy, and other modalities. Participants will also be instructed on a home exercise program in which they will exercise at least 3 times weekly. During each session which will last around 40 minutes, the project physiotherapist will (i) review the home exercise program, (ii) observe the participants performing the exercises and correct their form and techniques when necessary, and (iii) work with the participants to set goals and progress the exercise program.
DEVICEMOKneeTOR with standard app configuration and enhanced personalisation
Participants randomized to receive MOKneeTOR with enhanced personalization of the MOKneeTOR app will receive an app experience with an education chatbot that adapts tone, reading level, and format (text, infographics, short videos) to participants' preferences and engagement. Minor person-centred features (e.g., treating therapist caricature avatars and name-badged messages) will also be incorporated to strengthen therapeutic alliance without altering clinical guidance.
Sponsors
Singapore General Hospital
National University Hospital, Singapore
University of the Sunshine Coast
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Because of the nature of the intervention, it is not feasible to blind participants or the treating physiotherapists. To reduce bias, the research assistant collecting assessment data will be blinded to treatment allocation. Participants will also be instructed not to reveal details about their group assignment to the outcome assessor to maintain blinding.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
45 Years to 95 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* All patients who meet the knee OA clinical criteria (aged ≥45 years, activity-related knee pain, and ≤30 min knee joint stiffness in the morning) will be included, * an owner of a smartphone, * an education level of at least 8 years, * a willingness to be randomized to either MOKneeTOR program or outpatient rehabilitation program, * an ability to complete baseline assessment.
Exclusion criteria
* lower limb joint replacement surgery anticipated within the next 6 months, * rheumatoid arthritis and other systemic arthritis, * a previous history of stroke and other major neurological conditions, * significant back or other non-knee pain, * pregnant women
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Gait speed | baseline, 3 months and 6 months post baseline visit | This provides a performance-based measure of physical function. Participants will walk at their usual pace (warm-up) and fast pace along a 4-metre walkway, with a 2.5-metre acceleration distance before and a 2.5-metre deceleration distance after the timed section. Gait timing will be captured concurrently using both a stopwatch and a time-of-flight sensor. Gait speed (m/s) will be calculated for both walking conditions; however, time-of-flight sensor-based fast-paced gait speed will be the primary outcome measure. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Short Form of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (ShortMAC F) | baseline, 3 months and 6 months post baseline | The Short Form of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (ShortMAC-F) is an OA-specific questionnaire designed to measure physical function. Total scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores representing greater function. |
| Knee Pain: Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) | baseline, 3 months and 6 months post baseline | Knee pain intensity will be measured using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), inquiring about the average pain intensity level over the past 1 week. Scores range from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicate greater pain intensity. |
| Knee strength | baseline, 3 months and 6 months post baseline | Maximum quadriceps strength will be assessed on a seated knee extension machine using a standardized one repetition maximum (1RM) protocol. |
| Health-related quality of life - Euro Qol Group 5-Dimension (EQ-5D-5L) | baseline, 3 months and 6 months post baseline | The EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) is a health-related quality of life instrument with established psychometric properties in Singaporeans. Quality-adjusted-life-years (QALY), derived from the EQ-5D-5L utility index scores (which range from less than 0 to 1.0, where higher scores indicate a better health-related quality of life), will be the primary economic outcome used in the cost-utility analysis. |
| Treatment satisfaction | 3 months post baseline | Participants will rate their satisfaction with rehabilitation on a 11-point numeric rating scale, with 0 indicating "not at all satisfied " and 10 indicating "totally satisfied". |
| Treatment recommendation | 3 months post baseline | Participants will rate how likely they are to recommend this treatment to a friend or family member with knee arthritis using an 11-point numeric rating scale (allowing for 0.5 increments). A score of 0 indicates "Not at all likely," and a score of 10 indicates "Extremely likely." |
| Global perceived effect (GROC) | 3 months post baseline | GROC of overall change in pain and change in physical function since baseline will be measured using a 9-point ordinal scale, with 1 indicating "Much better" and 9 indicating "Much worse". |
| Exercise Compliance | 3 months post baseline | Participants will respond to the question "I do my knee strengthening exercises as often as recommended/advised," using a 0-10 scale (0 = strongly disagree, 10 = strongly agree). |
| Cost outcomes: Healthcare utilization costs | 3 months and 6 months post baseline | Between the baseline and the Month-6 assessment, the investigators will use the modified OA Cost and Consequences Questionnaire (OCC-Q) to measure the use of other health and home care services, including hospitalizations, co interventions, visits to healthcare providers (e.g., doctors and other healthcare professionals), and prescribed or over-the counter medications. The investigators will also collect information on participants' employment and income status and assess productivity losses, including restricted activity days (such as sick leave taken by participants and leave of absence taken by their caregivers). |
| Lower limb strength and mobility | baseline, 3 months and 6 months post baseline | This will be measured by the 5-times sit-to-stand test. Participants will perform the tests at their usual (warm-up) and fast pace, and their timing will be concurrently captured using both a stopwatch and a smartphone. |
| App usability | 3 months post baseline | The usability of the MOKneeTOR app will be measured using the System Usability Scale (SUS), which is a validated 10 item questionnaire that assesses perceived usability. Qualitative feedback from participants will be collected to help identify intervention elements that are perceived to be useful. Additionally, user engagement and usage metrics will be automatically captured by the system backend throughout the study. |
Countries
Singapore
Contacts
CONTACTYong Hao Pua, PhD
Outcome results
None listed