Osteoarthritis management course
The standardised osteoarthritis management course has been developed in Sweden and is based on evidence based guidelines, as well as the perspective of people with osteoarthritis. The course is offered to people with osteoarthritis in hip or knee by several care centres around Sweden. Ten of them are pilot centres for the BOA project (Mölndal, Kungälv, Munkedal, Trollhättan, Vänersborg, Malmö, Trelleborg, Lund, Karlstad, Umeå).
Physical therapists and occupational therapists involved in the osteoarthritis management course are educated and experienced in osteoarthritis. The content of the course can vary between sites, but the core information (minimal intervention) is standardised and given in a similar way at all sites. Minimal intervention is three theoretical sessions, each of about 90 minutes, held as group sessions with about 10 participants in each group (figure 1).
After the minimal intervention patients are offered an individual exercise program, and the opportunity to practice this program together with others under supervision of a physical therapist. Patients are also encouraged to find one or two exercises to perform as home exercises. The exercise part is optional, but the goal is to engage as many as possible in their self-treatment and a physically active life style.
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