Effects of an Online Training Program for Physiotherapists About Weight Management for People With Osteoarthritis

NCT04574804 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: UMelbourne
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 80
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

A randomized controlled trial for which the primary objective is to evaluate the effects of an online training program on physiotherapist's self-reported confidence in knowledge about weight management for people with osteoarthritis. 80 physiotherapists will be recruited into the study and randomized to one of two arms a) online training program (access to training program for 6 weeks) or b) control group (no access to online training program during the study). Questionnaires will be completed by all participants at baseline, and again at the end of the 6 week intervention period. A biostatistician will analyse blinded, de-identified data.

Conditions

Osteoarthritis; Overweight and Obesity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Self-reported confidence in knowledge about weight management for patients with osteoarthritis

  Measured using an expert-developed, customized self-reported questionnaire exploring physiotherapists' perceived confidence in knowledge about weight management in osteoarthritis. Total score out of 70 possible points calculated from the responses to 14 Likert Scale (1-5) questions where higher values indicate higher confidence and lower values lower confidence in knowledge

  Change from baseline at 6 weeks post randomization

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Self-reported confidence in clinical skills for weight management for patients with osteoarthritis

  Change from baseline at 6 weeks post randomization

• Self-perceived competence in nutrition care to patients with chronic disease

  Change from baseline at 6 weeks post randomization

• Weight stigmatized attitudes

  Change from baseline at 6 weeks post randomization

Other Outcomes (4)

• Completion of training modules (process measure)

  Throughout 6 week intervention period

• Usefulness of modules (process measure)

  Throughout 6 week intervention period

• Structure and content of modules (process measure)

  Throughout 6 week intervention period

Study Arms (2)

online training program

EXPERIMENTAL

online training program Participants receive access to online training program consisting of 6 e-learning modules on topics of weight management in osteoarthritis, which they will be instructed to and encourage to complete over the 6 intervention period.

Other: Online training program in weight management for osteoarthritis

control group

NO INTERVENTION

control group Participants do NOT receive access to the online training program consisting of 6 e-learning modules on topics of weight management in osteoarthritis during the intervention period.

Interventions

Online training program in weight management for osteoarthritis OTHER

An evidence based online education training program for physiotherapists in weight management for osteoarthritis. Training modules cover the following topic areas: 1. Overweight and obesity and osteoarthritis 2. Overview of weight regulation, overweight and obesity 3. Examining weight stigma in physiotherapy and personal beliefs about weight 4. Communication approach for addressing weight management 5. Interventions for weight management 6. Health behaviour change support These 6 e-learning modules comprise the online training program, access to which comprises the study intervention.

online training program

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 21 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Currently registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Registry
• Have access to a computer with internet connection
• Willing to commit to completion of an 8-10 hour online training module if randomized to the intervention group
• Willing to refrain from participating in any weight management professional development activity external to the study for six weeks of intervention
• Able to give informed consent and to commit and participate fully in the assessment and evaluation procedures over the six week period.

You may not qualify if:

• n/a

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Melbourne: lead
• National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Melbourne

Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Allison K, Jones S, Hinman RS, Briggs AM, Sumithran P, Quicke J, Holden M, Chiavaroli N, Crofts S, George E, Foster N, Bennell K. Effects of an Online Education Program on Physical Therapists' Confidence in Weight Management for People With Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2023 Apr;75(4):835-847. doi: 10.1002/acr.24828. Epub 2022 Dec 12.

  PMID: 34931477 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Osteoarthritis; Overweight; Obesity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Overnutrition; Nutrition Disorders; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Body Weight; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Kim Bennell, PhD, BAppSci

  University of Melbourne

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Randomisation of participants will be conducted by a researcher with no direct involvement in the study. The biostatistician will analyse blinded, de-identified data.
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Prof. Kim Bennell

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 22, 2020
• First Posted: October 5, 2020
• Study Start: October 6, 2020
• Primary Completion: December 15, 2020
• Study Completion: December 15, 2020
• Last Updated: July 9, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

AU (1)