QI-HOA
Quality indicators for hand osteoarthritis
Project managers
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Hand osteoarthritis is one of the most common rheumatic joint diseases. There is no cure, but international guidelines state that information, hand training and the use of simple support rails and aids are effective measures to reduce pain and improve function. Research shows that the offer for this patient group is inadequate. One method to improve this is to make information about recommended treatment available via digital solutions, such as applications for smartphones and via websites, also called eHealth. This technology can be used to support patients in developing and following useful coping strategies, and to collect data for use in research.
Quality indicators are a useful tool for monitoring the quality of treatment and investigating whether it improves when new treatment strategies are introduced. Quality indicators have been developed for the treatment of osteoarthritis, but these are not adapted to the group with hand osteoarthritis, or the use of eHealth strategies.
The aim of this project is therefore to adapt an existing quality indicator set for patients with hand osteoarthritis and use eHealth strategies, and to examine the revised set's measurement properties.
WHO CAN JOIN?
An international expert group will, through a controlled voting process, agree on a set of quality indicators for hand osteoarthritis. This set will then be tested in a randomized controlled trial comparing the effect of two treatments for patients with hand osteoarthritis.
Recruitment of participants for the expert group has ended, while recruitment of participants in the randomized controlled study will start in autumn 2023.
WHAT DOES THE STUDY INCLUDE?
In the first part of the project, an expert group of user representatives, clinicians and researchers participates in a controlled voting process (Delphi process) to prepare proposals for a set of quality indicators for hand osteoarthritis.
In the second part of the study, people with hand osteoarthritis will be randomly allocated to two treatments, where one treatment also includes the use of Happy Hands, which is a treatment app for hand osteoarthritis. Fulfillment of quality indicators (pass rate) in the two groups will be measured before and after treatment in both groups, and compared to assess whether the quality indicator set captures quality in treatment given via different solutions.