Osteoarthritis Health Professional Training Manual

Professor Hunter MD, PhD is a rheumatology clinician researcher whose main research focus has been clinical and translational research in osteoarthritis (OA). He is the Florance and Cope Chair of Rheumatology, Professor of Medicine at University of Sydney, and Staff Specialist at Royal North Shore Hospital and North Sydney Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Centre. Since 2014 he was ranked as the leading expert in the world on osteoarthritis on expertscape.com. His research is focused on a number of key elements in OA including (but not limited to) the epidemiology of osteoarthritis, the application of imaging to better understand structure and function with application to both epidemiologic research and clinical trials, novel therapies in disease management and heath service system delivery of chronic disease management. Dr. Hunter has over 500 peer reviewed publications in international journals and recently completed his second book on self-management strategies for the lay public. Dr Jillian Eyles is an early career researcher and physiotherapist who leads a coordinated research program to support the translation of best-evidence osteoarthritis (OA) care into clinical practice. Dr Eyles is a Sydney Health Partners Research Translation Fellow at the Kolling Institute, Sydney Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney. With more than 50 publications in osteoarthritis research she has been awarded in excess of $3million grant funding for her projects.

1. Introduction to OA, communication and person-centred care 2. History taking and physical assessment 3. Diagnosis, risk factors for OA progression, and recognising comorbidities 4. Core components of best evidence OA care: Management planning, education, supporting self-management and behaviour change 5. Core components of best evidence OA care: Physical activity, exercise and therapeutic exercise 6. Core components of best evidence OA care: Weight control 7. Adjunctive rehabilitative interventions 8. Pharmacotherapy 9. Surgical interventions 10. The interdisciplinary team, service and professional development