Trial Review

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Trial registered on ANZCTR


Registration number
ACTRN12625000787482
Ethics application status
Approved
Date submitted
7/07/2025
Date registered
25/07/2025
Date last updated
25/07/2025
Date data sharing statement initially provided
25/07/2025
Type of registration
Retrospectively registered

Titles & IDs
Public title
Evaluation of the effectiveness of an eLearning program for health professionals managing people with osteoarthritis: a mixed methods prospective cohort study and randomised trial
Scientific title
Evaluation of the effectiveness of an eLearning program for health professionals managing people with osteoarthritis: a mixed methods prospective cohort study and randomised trial
Secondary ID [1] 314834 0
nil
Universal Trial Number (UTN)
Trial acronym
Linked study record

Health condition
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied:
Osteoarthritis (OA) 338100 0
Condition category
Condition code
Musculoskeletal 334397 334397 0 0
Osteoarthritis

Intervention/exposure
Study type
Interventional
Description of intervention(s) / exposure
This online Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) is evaluating the effectiveness of an eLearning program for health professionals involved in the care of people with osteoarthritis.
The osteoarthritis eLearning program forms part of a broader arthritis-focused eLearning platform (ATLAS) designed for health professionals. The OA-specific modules were developed as part of this broader ATLAS program.
The broad topics covered in the osteoarthritis-specific modules include:
• Person-centred care and communication
• Introduction to osteoarthritis
• Talking to people about their osteoarthritis
• Management planning, supporting self-management and behaviour change
• Physical activity and exercise
• Weight management
• Adjunctive rehabilitative therapies
• Pharmacotherapy and dietary supplements
• Surgical interventions
• The interdisciplinary team and service delivery
• Evidence-based practice and professional development
The eLearning program incorporates interactive activities, multimedia content, and downloadable resources, all delivered via a secure online learning management system (website). Participants access the program through a password-protected login, available via smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Participants will be required to complete a minimum of four out of the twelve osteoarthritis modules. Each module is designed to take approximately 1 hour to complete. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate confirming 1 hour of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) per module completed.
Participants may select the modules most relevant to their individual learning needs. Adherence to the intervention will be monitored through website analytics, which will capture logins, module access, time spent, and completion status.
Access will be provided to participants for 10 weeks.
Intervention code [1] 331437 0
Behaviour
Comparator / control treatment
The guideline summary provided to participants was developed from two published systematic reviews of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for osteoarthritis (OA) management:
Gray B, Gibbs C, et al. Systematic review of osteoarthritis clinical practice guidelines: recommendations and quality appraisal. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2024.02.890
Gray B, Gibbs C, et al. Systematic review of osteoarthritis clinical practice guidelines: alignment with best practice standards. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2023.05.015
These summaries reflect current, evidence-based recommendations aligned with international OA CPGs.
Description of the Knowledge Translation Tool:
The knowledge translation tool is a plain language summary of current OA CPGs. It was specifically developed for this study based on the findings from the two systematic reviews cited above. This summary supports health professionals’ awareness of up-to-date, evidence-based OA management recommendations.
Participant Interaction with the Knowledge Translation Tool:
Participants in both the intervention and control groups receive the guideline summary via email in PDF format. It can be accessed on a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Control Group Access to Updated Guidelines:
Control group participants receive the guideline summary once at the time of allocation and will not receive updates throughout the 6-month period. After completing their 6-month follow-up questionnaire, they will be offered access to the full OA eLearning program.
Monitoring Adherence to Control Activities:
As the guideline summary is provided via email, no monitoring of adherence (e.g., clicks, downloads, or logins) is planned for the control group.
Control group
Active

Outcomes
Primary outcome [1] 342083 0
Mean difference in confidence in knowledge following completion of the 10-week OA eLearning program.
Timepoint [1] 342083 0
Baseline, 10 weeks, and 6 months following completion of the eLearning program.
Primary outcome [2] 342206 0
Mean difference in confidence in skills following completion of the 10-week OA eLearning program.
Timepoint [2] 342206 0
Baseline, 10 weeks, and 6 months following completion of the eLearning program.
Secondary outcome [1] 449512 0
Self-reported change in health professionals’ clinical behaviour
Timepoint [1] 449512 0
10 weeks, and 6 months following completion of the eLearning program.
Secondary outcome [2] 449513 0
Change in health and medical university students’ self-reported confidence in knowledge of osteoarthritis management
Timepoint [2] 449513 0
10 weeks, and 6 months following completion of the eLearning program.

Eligibility
Key inclusion criteria
Registered healthcare professionals who manage people with osteoarthritis (OA) within their scope of practice, or a university student studying a health or medical degree.
Have access to or ownership of a smart device (laptop, tablet, mobile phone) and access to the internet.
And can read and understand English.
Minimum age
18 Years
Maximum age
No limit
Sex
Both males and females
Can healthy volunteers participate?
Yes
Key exclusion criteria
Provide a confidence in knowledge and skills score greater than 80% at baseline on a 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (0-10)

Study design
Purpose of the study
Educational / counselling / training
Allocation to intervention
Randomised controlled trial
Procedure for enrolling a subject and allocating the treatment (allocation concealment procedures)
Participants will be randomised to the intervention or active waitlist control group at a 1:1 ratio and by random permutated blocks of sizes 8, 10 and 12. Randomisation will be generated via the computer-generated randomisation tool in the REDcap software, thus ensuring allocation concealment from the investigators and participants.
Methods used to generate the sequence in which subjects will be randomised (sequence generation)
Participants will be stratified at baseline according to whether their scope of practice is musculoskeletal-focused or not. This will be determined by the question: “Is the main focus of your clinical role on musculoskeletal conditions? (Yes/No).” Stratification will ensure an even distribution of participants with and without a musculoskeletal focus across the intervention and control groups. The health/medical student cohort will not be stratified.
Masking / blinding
Blinded (masking used)
Who is / are masked / blinded?
The people receiving the treatment/s


The people analysing the results/data
Intervention assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Phase
Not Applicable
Type of endpoint/s
Efficacy
Statistical methods / analysis

Recruitment
Recruitment status
Recruiting
Date of first participant enrolment
Anticipated
Actual
9/06/2025
Date of last participant enrolment
Anticipated
19/01/2026
Actual
Date of last data collection
Anticipated
16/03/2026
Actual
Sample size
Target
102
Accrual to date
68
Final
Recruitment in Australia
Recruitment state(s)
ACT,NSW,NT,QLD,SA,TAS,WA,VIC
Recruitment outside Australia
Country [1] 27186 0
New Zealand
State/province [1] 27186 0
Country [2] 27187 0
Ireland
State/province [2] 27187 0
Country [3] 27188 0
United Kingdom
State/province [3] 27188 0
Country [4] 27189 0
United States of America
State/province [4] 27189 0

Funding & Sponsors
Funding source category [1] 319393 0
Government body
Name [1] 319393 0
the Australian Government Department of Health (Public Health and Chronic Disease Program Arthritis – Health Professional Education and Training grant)
Country [1] 319393 0
Australia
Primary sponsor type
University
Name
The University of Sydney
Address
Country
Australia
Secondary sponsor category [1] 321879 0
None
Name [1] 321879 0
Address [1] 321879 0
Country [1] 321879 0

Ethics approval
Ethics application status
Approved
Ethics committee name [1] 317967 0
The University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee
Ethics committee address [1] 317967 0
Ethics committee country [1] 317967 0
Australia
Date submitted for ethics approval [1] 317967 0
16/10/2023
Approval date [1] 317967 0
09/11/2023
Ethics approval number [1] 317967 0
2023/683

Summary
Brief summary
Trial website
Trial related presentations / publications
Public notes

Contacts
Principal investigator
Name 142718 0
Ms Bimbi Gray
Address 142718 0
.The Kolling Institute, Level 10 Kolling Building, Royal North Shore Hospital, 10 Westbourne Street, St Leonards NSW 2065.
Country 142718 0
Australia
Phone 142718 0
+61417896836
Fax 142718 0
Email 142718 0
[email protected]
Contact person for public queries
Name 142719 0
Bimbi Gray
Address 142719 0
The Kolling Institute, Level 10 Kolling Building, Royal North Shore Hospital, 10 Westbourne Street, St Leonards NSW 2065.
Country 142719 0
Australia
Phone 142719 0
+61417896836
Fax 142719 0
Email 142719 0
[email protected]
Contact person for scientific queries
Name 142720 0
Bimbi Gray
Address 142720 0
The Kolling Institute, Level 10 Kolling Building, Royal North Shore Hospital, 10 Westbourne Street, St Leonards NSW 2065.
Country 142720 0
Australia
Phone 142720 0
+61417896836
Fax 142720 0
Email 142720 0
[email protected]

Data sharing statement
Will the study consider sharing individual participant data?
No


What supporting documents are/will be available?

No Supporting Document Provided


Results publications and other study-related documents

Documents added manually
No documents have been uploaded by study researchers.

Documents added automatically
No additional documents have been identified.