Closing the evidence-practice gap for non-pharmacologic and non-surgical osteoarthritis care with an e-health knowledge translation strategy

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and affects about 10% of the population in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

The prevalence and impact of OA are expected to rise dramatically in coming decades, which will have significant implications for the physiotherapy workforce. Importantly, OA is frequently co-morbid with other chronic health conditions, meaning that it is relevant across all areas of physiotherapy practice.

An international team, led by Australian physiotherapists, is investigating confidence in disease knowledge and clinical skills and attitudes related to osteoarthritis care among clinicians (physiotherapists, primary health care nurses, GPs, and GP registrars) and trainees (physiotherapy students and medical students) in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The data will be used to inform professional development and workforce capacity-building strategies.

Staff involved: 

• A/Prof Andrew Briggs, Curtin University, Western Australia
• A/Prof Helen Slater, Curtin University, Western Australia
• Prof Kim Bennell, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
• Prof Rana Hinman, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
• Prof Michelle Leech, Monash University, VIC, Australia
• Dr Ben Darlow, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand
• Prof Alison Greig, University of British Columbia, BC, Canada
• Dr Andrea Bendrups, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia
• Dr Tania Pizzari, La Trobe University, VIC, Australia
• Dr Joanne Jordan, HealthSense (Aust) Pty Ltd, VIC, Australia
• A/Prof Shanton Chang, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia