Becoming Active in Beating osteoarthritiS (BABS)

The goal of the BABS project is to use effective and persuasive communication to:

• address false beliefs about osteoarthritis (e.g. physical activity leads to wear and tear)
• align expectations about treatment options (for example, about joint replacement surgery);
• communicate a regionally consistent message about osteoarthritis.

Within this research we aim to study the effects of a public campaign aimed at patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis and their health care professionals. We will primarily study the effects on self-management, quality of care, and health care use.

The project runs from January 2020 until December 2023 and will consist of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) of 24 general practices. Patients are invited through their GP. of the campaign will last for 18 months, and will primarily consist of the dissemination of key messages in various forms and education to patients and caregivers. The campaign starts in October 2021.

Data collection will be performed via online questionnaires (every 6 months for patients, and at the start and after 12 months for health care providers), interviews with health care providers before and after the campaign, and extractions from the GP information system (HIS).

Within this project we cooperate with:

• Prof. Pim Assendelft (Radboudumc)
• Prof. Enny Das (Radboud Universiteit)
• Dr. Henk Schers (Radboudumc)
• Dr. Sander Koëter (CWZ)