TOWARDS A REGIONAL APPROACH OF OSTEOARTHRITIS (OA): DEVELOPMENT, FEASIBILITY AND PRELIMINARY EFFECTS OF AN OA SELF-MANAGEMENT COURSE FOR PATIENTS.

Objectives are:

1) To determine the feasibility of an OA educational self-management course, by assessing the appreciation of health care providers and participants, participation and barriers and facilitators to participation.

2) To determine preliminary effects of an OA educational self-management course on health care utilization (primary outcome measure) and self-efficacy, illness perceptions, self-management skills, knowledge, pain, daily functioning and physical activity.

T0 baseline

T1 3 months after intervention

In the period of October 2015 – March 2016 the self-management OA courses will be organized in 3 districts in the Nijmegen area. Per district a maximum of 4 courses will be organized. Each course will consist of two 1.5-hour meetings, for 12 patients and their partners/significant person.



Every course will be led by a physiotherapist, a GP or practice nurse from the district, a public health advisor, and an orthopedic surgeon or specialized nurse.