# Knowledge translation and exercise for degenerative meniscal pathology and early osteoarthritis  (KNEE-DEeP): Protocol for a single arm feasibility study

## TL;DR

This study tests a program to improve non-surgical treatment for knee pain caused by meniscal issues or early osteoarthritis in primary care settings.

## Contribution

The KNEE-DEeP intervention introduces a new approach to improve access to non-surgical treatments by addressing barriers at multiple levels.

## Key findings

- The study will assess the feasibility of the KNEE-DEeP program in real-world primary care settings.
- Qualitative interviews will evaluate how acceptable the intervention is to GPs, physiotherapists, and patients.
- Patient outcomes will be measured at baseline, 12 weeks, and 6 months using online questionnaires.

## Abstract

The Knowledge Translation and Exercise for Degenerative Meniscal Pathology and Early Knee Osteoarthritis (KNEE-DEeP) intervention was designed to promote greater uptake of evidence-based non-surgical treatments for knee pain attributed to degenerative meniscal pathology and early knee osteoarthritis (OA) in primary care, by tackling barriers at a service, clinician and patient level. Evidence indicates that patients frequently do not access first-line treatments, namely exercise and patient education, prior to specialist referral. The KNEE-DEeP intervention supports general practitioners (GPs) and physiotherapists to enhance their skills and confidence in managing patients with this type of knee pain through professional development workshops. In turn, patients will receive an ‘enhanced consultation’ from their GP and be referred to an early ‘best practice’ physiotherapy session. Physiotherapists will work with patients to develop a collaborative action plan focussing on self-management and exercise.

This protocol outlines a single arm non-randomised feasibility study with a mixed method process evaluation. The study intends to recruit 15 GPs, five physiotherapists and 36 patients from general practices in the South-West of Ireland. Eligible patients, will be aged between 35 years and 69 years inclusive, and attend their GP with an episode of non-traumatic knee pain attributed to a degenerative meniscal tear (DMT) or early OA. Physiotherapists and GPs will be trained in intervention delivery. Within two weeks of receiving an ’enhanced consultation‘ from their participating GP, patients will attend the one-hour ‘best practice’ physiotherapy session. Patient data will be collected via online questionnaires at baseline, 12 weeks and 6 months. Qualitative interviews to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention will be conducted with a purposive sample of GPs, physiotherapists and their enrolled patients.

Approved by Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Cork Teaching Hospitals. Results will be presented in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences.

clinicaltrials.gov (
NCT06576557)