Grant: Operating Grant: KTA - PA: Primary and Community-Based Healthcare

Being physically active has been shown to reduce pain, improve quality of life and have potential to reduce joint damage. However, our recent survey in British Columbia found only 1 in 4 people with mild osteoarthritis symptoms (pain; stiffness) met the recommended level of physical activity. Research in people without arthritis shows that web-based tools can increase walking behaviour, but none of these tools are designed with the needs of people with arthritis in mind. Research in other chronic diseases has found that people are more likely to quit smoking shortly after the diagnosis of a smoking-related disease. Thus, the diagnosis of osteoarthritis presents an ideal 'teachable moment' to engage those who have been sedentary to become physically active. This project will address the Research Question: Can an interactive website increase physical activity in people with previously undiagnosed early knee osteoarthritis? The website, called OPEN (Osteoarthritis Physical Activity & Exercise Net), will be created based on a well developed behavioural theory. We will then recruit 252 sedentary people with early knee osteoarthritis in British Columbia to test the website. Half of them will be assigned to use the OPEN website for 3 months and will receive an education pamphlet produced by The Arthritis Society; the other half will only receive the pamphlet. During the test period, participants will complete online questionnaires at 0, 3 and 6 months to allow us to follow changes in physical activity, knee symptoms and outcomes related to their motivation to become physically active. We will also compare changes between the two groups. Our project directly targets physical inactivity at a time when the joint damage tends to be mild, and when people are more motivated to adopt a healthy behaviour. If the OPEN is found to be effective in improving physical activity, it opens further opportunities to promote early diagnosis and to implement lifestyle interventions.