OP0321-HPR HIGHER QUALITY OF CARE AND LESS SURGERY AFTER IMPLEMENTING OSTEOARTHRITIS GUIDELINES IN PRIMARY CARE– LONG-TERM RESULTS FROM A CLUSTER RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
Authors: N. Osteras, T. Moseng, L. Van Bodegom-Vos, K. Dziedzic, Ø. Andreassen, A. M. Fenstad, O. Furnes, J. Nygren Hansen, B. Natvig, J. H. Røtterud, U. B. Schjervheim, T. P. M. Vliet Vlieland, K. B. Hagen
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Background: To improve quality of care for patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA), a structured model for integrated OA care was developed and implemented among general practitioners (GPs) and physiotherapists (PTs) in primary care. The model was developed based on international treatment recommendations. After 6 months, patient-reported quality of care and satisfaction with care were greater, more patients were referred to physiotherapy and fewer to orthopaedic surgeon, and more patients fulfilled physical activity criteria among OA patients receiving the new model of care compared to the usual care control group 1 . Objectives: To assess the long-term effects 12 months after implementing the model in primary care. Methods: A cluster-randomised controlled trial with a stepped-wedge design was conducted in six Norwegian municipalities (clusters). The intervention included implementation of the model, facilitated by interactive workshops for GPs and PTs. The main components of the model were a PT led, 3 hour patient education programme followed by 8-12 weeks of individually tailored, supervised exercise. Patient participants were ≥45 years with symptomatic hip or knee OA. Primary outcome was patient-reported quality of care (OsteoArthritis Quality Indicator questionnaire; 0–100, 100 = optimal quality). Secondary outcomes included satisfaction with care, referrals to physiotherapy, orthopaedic surgeon and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), joint replacement surgery, fulfilment of physical activity recommendations, and proportion with overweight (body mass index ≥25 kg/m2). Data was analysed using multilevel mixed models adjusted for age, sex and secular time. Results: In all, 40 of 80 GPs and 37 of 64 PTs attended the workshops. A total of 393 patients with hip and knee OA were included, with 284 in the intervention and 109 in the usual care control group. In the intervention group, 92% attended the OA education programme and 64% completed ≥8 weeks of exercise. At 12 months the intervention group reported significantly higher quality of care (score 58 vs. 41, mean difference: 17.6; 95% CI 11.1, 24.0) compared to the control group. The intervention group reported significantly higher satisfaction with care (Odds ratio (OR) 7.8; 95% CI 3.55, 17.27) and a significantly larger proportion (OR: 4.0; 95% CI 1.27, 12.63) met the recommendations for physical activity compared to the control group. A smaller proportion was referred to orthopaedic surgeon (OR 0.5; 95% CI 0.29, 1.00) and a smaller proportion received joint replacement surgery in the intervention (4%) compared to the control group (11%) (OR 0.3; 95% CI 0.14, 0.74). The proportion of patients referred to physiotherapy or MRI and the proportion with overweight were similar between the groups. Conclusion: Implementation of a structured model for OA care led to improved quality of care, higher satisfaction with care and higher physical activity levels after 12 months. These results are comparable to the 6 months results, which indicate a long-term persistence in the beneficial effects of the intervention. The lower surgical rate in the intervention compared to the control group suggests that higher uptake of OA recommendations in primary care may reduce or postpone the need for surgery in people with hip or knee OA. References: [1]Østerås N, Moseng T, Bodegom-Vos LV, et al. Implementing a structured model for osteoarthritis care in primary healthcare: A stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial. PLOS Medicine. 2019;16(10):e1002949. Disclosure of Interests: None declared