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Knee OsteoarthritisNCT02315664

MONITOR-OA: Using Wearable Activity Trackers to Improve Physical Activity in Knee Osteoarthritis

A study testing Education session, Fitbit Flex, and remote coaching by a PT and Same intervention with a 2 month delay in people with Knee Osteoarthritis and Joint Diseases, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Physical activity is an essential first-line treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, a 2013 systematic review found only 13% met the activity recommendation of 150 minutes or more per week. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 19 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Knee Osteoarthritis, Joint Diseases
What is being tested?
Education session, Fitbit Flex, and remote coaching by a PT and Same intervention with a 2 month delay
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
61 participants
Where
1 siteCanada
Study dates
2 Nov 2015to 25 May 2017
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 19 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Have a physician confirmed diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis OR are both 1) over 50, and 2) have experienced 4 weeks of pain, aching, or discomfort in or around the knee during the last year (equal to or more than 28 separate or consecutive days).
  • Have no previous diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, connective tissue diseases, fibromyalgia or gout.
  • Have no history of using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or gout medications.
  • Have no prior knee replacement surgery, and not on a waiting list for total knee replacement surgery.
  • Have no history of acute injury to the knee in the past 6 months.
  • Have not had surgery in the back, hip, knee, foot or ankle joints in the past 12 months.
Show all 15Show fewer
  • Have an email address and daily access to a computer with internet connection.
  • Be able to attend a 1.5-hour education session at the Mary Pack Arthritis Centre.
  • Be able to attend a 1-hour assessment session at Vancouver General Hospital prior to beginning the study, and again 2 and 4 months later.
  • In addition, participants may be eligible (not required) to partake in a brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment if they:
  • Do not have a pacemaker, brain aneurysm clip, cochlear implant, electrical stimulator for nerves or bones, implanted infusion pump, artificial heart valve, orthopaedic hardware, other metallic prostheses, coil, catheter or filter in any blood vessel, ear or eye implant, bullets or other metallic fragments.
  • Do not have a history of any eye injury involving metal fragments.
  • Do not have a history of claustrophobia (i.e. fearful of being in closed or narrow spaces).
  • Have not had surgery or tattoos within the past 6 weeks.
  • Are able to attend a 1-hour session at the UBC 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging Centre (2221 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver).

Who cannot join

  • Have a body mass index of equal to or greater than 40
  • Have received a steroid injection in a knee in the last 6 months
  • Have received a hyaluronate injection in a knee in the last 6 months
  • Use medication that may impair activity tolerance (e.g. beta blockers)
  • Are at risk when exercising, as identified by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Canada1 site
  • Arthritis Research Canada

    Richmond, British Columbia, V6X 2C7

Other trials in Canada

About this study

Official title: Improving Physical Activity Using an Online Monitoring Tool: a New Model of Care for Knee Osteoarthritis

Physical activity is an essential first-line treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, a 2013 systematic review found only 13% met the activity recommendation of 150 minutes or more per week. The primary goal of this randomized controlled trail is to assess the efficacy of a physical activity counseling model, involving a group education session, the use of Fitbit Flex (a wireless physical activity tracking device), and online/telephone coaching by a physiotherapist (PT), to improve physical activity and reduce sedentary time in patients with knee OA. Engaging in regular physical activity can have the additional benefit of improving cognitive functioning.

Read the detailed description

This project will address the Research Question: Can a non-intrusive physical activity tracking tool, combined with a group education session and advice from a physiotherapist (PT), increase physical activity in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA)? The investigators focus on knee OA because it is common (affecting 1 in 10) and can be debilitating. Being physically active improves pain, mobility and quality of life; however, less than half of patients are active. Combining the best evidence in OA care and digital technology, the investigators propose a new model of care for improving physical activity in patients with OA. Our primary objective is to determine whether a model involving 1) a group education session, 2) the use of Fitbit Flex, a commercially available physical activity tracker, and 3) remote coaching by a PT can improve physical activity and reduce sedentary time in patients with knee OA. This model of care is in line with the goal of Mary Pack Arthritis Program (MPAP) to optimize activity independence of OA patients with MPAP's available human resources. In this proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial (RCT), the investigators hypothesize that compared to a control group (i.e. the Delayed Intervention group), participants in the Immediate Intervention Group will 1) increase moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA), 2) reduce sedentary time, 3) improve in OA disease status, and 4) improve in their self-efficacy of OA management, 4) To examine whether individuals in the Intervention Group will show improved cognitive function over the intervention period compared to the control group, and 5) To examine the pre-intervention factors that predict the degree to which individuals in the Intervention Group increase MVPA and reduce sedentary time.

The investigators will use a mixed-methods approach, involving a RCT and in-depth interviews. The proof-of-concept study will employ a stepped wedge RCT design, whereby the intervention will be sequentially rolled out to participants over a number of time periods. The order in which individuals receive the intervention will be determined at random. The strength of this design is that it can properly address the efficacy question, while avoiding the dilemma of withholding the intervention to some participants, as in a parallel group design.

Being tested
Education session, Fitbit Flex, and remote coaching by a PT, Same intervention with a 2 month delay
Keywords
Physical activity, Exercise, Osteoarthritis, Knee, Arthritis
Medical subject headings
Osteoarthritis, Knee, Joint Diseases, Motor Activity, Osteoarthritis, Arthritis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Education session, Fitbit Flex, and remote coaching by a PTBehavioural

    Participants will receive a brief education session, use of a commercially available physical activity tracker called Fitbit Flex, and remote counseling by a PT. Intervention will be received immediately.

  • Same intervention with a 2 month delayBehavioural

    The Delayed Intervention Group will receive the same intervention as the Immediate Intervention Group, but with a 2 month delay.

Study groups in NCT02315664
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Immediate Intervention GroupExperimentalEducation session, Fitbit Flex, and remote coaching by a PT: These three components of the intervention will be delivered to the participants in Month 1 and 2. At the end of the education session, the PT will help participants set personal activity goals. In Month 1 and 2, participants will use the Fitbit Flex. The PT will review the progress with participants via 20-minute bi-weekly phone calls and progressively modify their activities. In Month 3-6, participants will keep the Fitbit and continue to use it with access to a PT via email as needed. In addition, they will receive a monthly e-newsletter about arthritis research that is not related to physical activity.
Receives: Behavioral: Education session, Fitbit Flex, and remote coaching by a PT
Delayed Intervention GroupExperimentalSame intervention with a 2 month delay: The Delayed Intervention Group (control group) will receive the same monthly e-newsletter in Months 1-2. The full intervention will be initiated in Month 3 with a brief education session, use of Fitbit Flex, and counseling by a physiotherapist. In Month 4, they will continue the intervention without the PT phone calls. Participants will keep the Fitbit for Month 5-6, and have email access to PT as needed.
Receives: Behavioral: Same intervention with a 2 month delay

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Time Spent in Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA)

    Participants wore a SenseWear Mini accelerometer for 7 days at baseline, and Months 2, 4, and 6. We calculated the average daily time (minutes) spent in MVPA accumulated in bouts. A bout is defined as 10 or more consecutive minutes at the level of 3 or higher METs, with allowance for interruption of up to 1 minute below the threshold.

    Measured: Baseline; 2 months, 4 months and 6 months from baseline

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. Time Spent in Sedentary Behaviors

    We calculated the average daily time spent with an energy expenditure of 1.5 METs or lower, occurring in bouts of 20 minutes or more during waking hours.

    Measured: Change from baseline in time spent sedentary behaviors at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months.

  2. KOOS - Symptoms

    Symptoms were measured by Knee Injury and OA Outcome Score (KOOS). The KOOS measures knee osteoarthritis disease status and consists of five sub-scales: knee pain, stiffness, daily activity, sports/recreation, and quality of life. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher being better.

    Measured: Baseline; 2 months, 4 months and 6 months from baseline

  3. KOOS - Pain

    Pain was measured by Knee Injury and OA Outcome Score (KOOS). The KOOS measures knee osteoarthritis disease status and consists of five sub-scales: knee pain, stiffness, daily activity, sports/recreation, and quality of life. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher being better.

    Measured: Baseline; 2 months, 4 months and 6 months from baseline

  4. KOOS - Activity of Daily Living

    Activity of Daily Living was measured by Knee Injury and OA Outcome Score (KOOS). The KOOS measures knee osteoarthritis disease status and consists of five sub-scales: knee pain, stiffness, daily activity, sports/recreation, and quality of life. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher being better.

    Measured: Baseline; 2 months, 4 months and 6 months from baseline

  5. KOOS - Sports & Recreation

    Sports \& Recreation was measured by Knee Injury and OA Outcome Score (KOOS). The KOOS measures knee osteoarthritis disease status and consists of five sub-scales: knee pain, stiffness, daily activity, sports/recreation, and quality of life. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher being better.

    Measured: Baseline; 2 months, 4 months and 6 months from baseline

  6. KOOS - Quality of Life

    Quality of Life was measured by Knee Injury and OA Outcome Score (KOOS). The KOOS measures knee osteoarthritis disease status and consists of five sub-scales: knee pain, stiffness, daily activity, sports/recreation, and quality of life. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher being better.

    Measured: Baseline; 2 months, 4 months and 6 months from baseline

  7. Partners in Health Scale

    The Partners in Health Scale is a 12-item measure designed to assess self-efficacy, knowledge of health conditions and treatment, and self-management behaviors such as adopting a healthy lifestyle. Scores range from 0 to 96, with lower being better.

    Measured: Baseline; 2 months, 4 months and 6 months from baseline

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted12 Dec 2014 (estimated)
  2. Study start2 Nov 2015
  3. Primary completion17 May 2017
  4. Study completion25 May 2017

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
61 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02315664
Sponsor's protocol ID
H14-01762
Status last verified
Sep 2019
First submitted
17 Nov 2014
Last updated
28 Oct 2019
Data monitoring committee
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Falck RS, Best JR, Li LC, Chan PCY, Feehan LM, Liu-Ambrose T. Can we improve cognitive function among adults with osteoarthritis by increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour? Secondary analysis of the MONITOR-OA study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2018 Dec 21;19(1):447. doi: 10.1186/s12891-018-2369-z.

    PubMed 30577819
  • Li LC, Sayre EC, Xie H, Falck RS, Best JR, Liu-Ambrose T, Grewal N, Hoens AM, Noonan G, Feehan LM. Efficacy of a Community-Based Technology-Enabled Physical Activity Counseling Program for People With Knee Osteoarthritis: Proof-of-Concept Study. J Med Internet Res. 2018 Apr 30;20(4):e159. doi: 10.2196/jmir.8514.

    PubMed 29712630

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Education session, Fitbit Flex, and remote coaching by a PT and Same intervention with a 2 month delay in people with Knee Osteoarthritis and Joint Diseases, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 15 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Oct 2019. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 28 Oct 2019). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Time Spent in Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) (time frame: Baseline; 2 months, 4 months and 6 months from baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02315664, which also lists 2 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Oct 2019.

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