Testing of a New Joint Protection Program

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Helping Hand - Joint Protection Program: Joint protection refers to a set of techniques and strategies that help reduce stress on the joints, manage pain, and prevent further joint damage. These techniques are particularly important for people with hand arthritis, as the small joints in the hands are often affected, leading to pain, stiffness, and difficulty performing daily tasks. Key principles of joint protection include: 1. Using larger, stronger joints whenever possible (e.g., using the forearm instead of the fingers to push open a door). 2. Reducing strain by spreading the load across multiple joints (e.g., carrying items with two hands instead of one). 3. Avoid tight gripping or pinching motions that can overstrain the joints. 4. Incorporating assistive devices to reduce effort during tasks (e.g., jar openers or ergonomic tools). 5. Pacing and prioritizing activities to avoid overuse of the joints and allow for adequate rest

Study summary

The goal of this study is to to examine the feasibility of a full-scale trial on Helping Hand, a new Joint Protection Program for Hand Osteoarthritis and to examine the acceptability of the new Joint Protection Program.

This study will not assess the effectiveness of the program, as it is not designed or powered to do so. Instead, the information gathered will be used to refine the trial design and ensure the future full-scale trial that will assess the effectiveness of the program is robust and successful. The acceptability of the new Joint Protection Program will be assessed through a survey that will be administered to the intervention group at the end of the trial, which will be based on a standardized acceptability framework

Participants will:

Gain access to an online Joint Protection Program or continue to receive usual care for 12 weeks Visit the clinic or complete online assessments once every 4 weeks Keep a diary of their symptoms and the number of times they used other interventions to manage their symptoms (i.e. painkillers)

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Recruitment Rates — 4, 8, and 12-weeks after randomization
  Pre-defined cut-off scores will be used. Based on the cut-off scores each outcome will be categorised in one of three categories: "proceed"; "proceed with modifications"; and "do not proceed". Recruitment rates will be classified as proceed if they achieve or surpass the predefined threshold set at 8-10 participants on average per month.
• Adherence — 4, 8, and 12-weeks after randomization
  Uptake/participation will be tracked electronically by recording when participants log onto the website and monitoring whether participants show up in the live sessions. Adherence will also be measured by having the participants track the weekly modifications they performed through a self-reported diary. Pre-defined cut-off scores will be used. Based on the cut-off scores each outcome will be categorised in one of three categories: "proceed"; "proceed with modifications"; and "do not proceed". Adherence to the intervention protocol will be categorized as "proceed" if it achieves a minimum adherence rate of 85%.
• Clinical outcome measure completion — baseline, 4, 8, and 12-weeks after randomization
  Pre-defined cut-off scores will be used. Based on the cut-off scores each outcome will be categorised in one of three categories: "proceed"; "proceed with modifications"; and "do not proceed". Outcome completeness will be considered "proceed" when data collection for at least 90% of the intended outcomes is achieved.
• Attrition Rates — 4, 8, and 12-weeks after randomization
  Pre-defined cut-off scores will be used. Based on the cut-off scores each outcome will be categorised in one of three categories: "proceed"; "proceed with modifications"; and "do not proceed". Attrition rates will be classified as "proceed" if they remain below the predefined threshold, typically set at 20% or lower

Trial sites (1)

More London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's trials in Canada

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