OPEN Trial
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Is Online Patient EducatioN feasible in people with patellofemoral pain whilst they wait for physiotherapy: a randomised controlled feasibility trial
IRAS ID
339961
Contact name
Bradley Neal
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Our aim
We want to understand whether providing patient education and self-treatment tools to people with kneecap pain who are waiting for physiotherapy is possible in a larger trial.Why this research is important
One in four people get kneecap pain. It makes it hard for them to squat, climb stairs, or run. People with kneecap pain are six times more likely to be anxious or depressed. They are twice as likely to get knee osteoarthritis. They usually see a physiotherapist after waiting a several months.
Half of these people will still be in pain after 5 years despite having physiotherapy. This may be explained by their long wait for treatment reducing their chances of a good recovery.
Providing education and self-treatment tools to people with kneecap pain may reduce their pain whilst they wait for physiotherapy.Patient and public involvement
We asked patient and clinician experts what should be included in a patient education and self-treatment resource for people with kneecap pain. We then created a website that we shared with a group of people with kneecap pain who helped us improve its usability.Our methods
People with kneecap pain waiting for physiotherapy at our local NHS trust will be invited to join our study. They will still go onto the waiting list if they agree, but half of them will randomly be provided access to our education and self-treatment website. Our study will finish before they see a physiotherapist and will not disturb their usual treatment. We will monitor how many people agree to join and complete our study, if they access our website and use the content, and if they provide us with information about their pain and how it affects their life. This will show us if we could use our website in a larger trial.REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/EE/0218
Date of REC Opinion
23 Oct 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion