Taking the first step: assessing implementation strategies designed to increase access to exercise programs for people with knee osteoarthritis

Every clinical guideline recommends that individuals living with knee OA undertake planned, structured, and repetitive physical exercise. Such programs are ideally provided by allied health clinicians, such as a physiotherapists or exercise physiologist. Referral for exercise for people with OA by their GP is low. This study will investigate two strategies to improve both the number of people referred to, and the number of people attend appointments with allied health clinicians. Strategy one is an educational message that exercise is important, included in the report back to the GP after the person with knee OA has undergone x-ray. Strategy two supplements the GP educational message with an infographic to the person with knee OA after they undergo x-ray to inform them about the benefits of exercise for pain and function. We will work with radiology clinics in NSW to compare the two strategies with current practice (no information to people with OA or GPs). We hypothesise both strategies will be more effective than current practice in increasing referrals to allied health clinicians. We also hypothesis that these strategies will be more effective than current practice at increasing attendance, including for people who self-refer.