Hip and knee osteoarthritis program to mark Arthritis Week on March 23rd
March 15, 2010
An interactive television broadcast and simultaneous webcast about early hip and knee osteoarthritis - the third program in the Rural Health Education Foundation’s four-part series exploring the national musculoskeletal clinical guidelines - will occur during Arthritis Awareness Week, on Tuesday March 23rd.
Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis: Guideline for Non-surgical Management outlines the evidence regarding effective management of symptomatic hip and knee osteoarthritis in adults up until referral for joint replacement. The hour-long program, which features a filmed case study and an expert panel discussion, focuses on short term care, long term care planning and management, and multidisciplinary co-ordination.
Optimising quality of life
“Around 18% of Australian women and 10% of men suffer symptomatic osteoarthritis, for which there is currently no cure,” says Rural Health Education Foundation CEO Don Perlgut. “This new program shows how a multidisciplinary management plan can optimise an osteoarthritis sufferer’s quality of life by improving function, decreasing pain, and providing knowledge and skills to manage chronic conditions and avoid complications.”
Case study and an expert panel
Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis: Guideline for Non-surgical Management features a filmed case study and a panel discussion chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National.
The panel of medical practitioners features Dr Rana Hinman, a Physiotherapist and Senior Lecturer at the Melbourne School of Health Sciences (working party member); Professor Geoff McColl, a Rheumatologist and Professor of Medical Education and Training at the University of Melbourne (working party member); Mr David Ng, an Adelaide Pharmacist and Director of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia’s SA/NT Branch; and Dr Michael Yelland, a General Practitioner and Associate Professor of Primary Health Care at Griffith University in Brisbane.
Third of four musculoskeletal programs
The other three programs in the Foundation’s new Musculoskeletal Guideline Series are:
- Osteoporosis: Clinical Guideline (date to be confirmed)
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Clinical Guideline for Diagnosis and Management (already broadcast and now available for viewing online)
- Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: Clinical Guideline for Diagnosis and Management (already broadcast and now available for viewing online)
About the national musculoskeletal guidelines
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has developed national musculoskeletal clinical guidelines for general practitioners and other primary care health professionals for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and osteoporosis.
Available via satellite, as a web-cast and by web-streaming
All four programs in the series will be available for viewing live as a simulcast via the Foundation’s satellite network and via web-casting from our website. (Please register for the live web-casts in advance through the program summary page).
After its initial simulcast, each program will also be available free on the Internet for viewing via web-streamed video or listening via an audio podcast.
Series free on DVD for Australian health professionals
The Musculoskeletal Guideline Series will also be available for free on DVD in mid-2010. You can pre-order a free copy of the series on DVD via the online series summary page (note the number of copies are limited, so order now).
Program funding
Production of the four programs and the free distribution of the Musculoskeletal Guideline Series on DVD have been funded by Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
About osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It is characterised by joint pain and mobility impairment associated with gradual wearing of cartilage and is a major cause of chronic musculoskeletal problems in older people. Intervention is targeted at relieving symptoms, improving joint mobility and function, and maintaining quality of life.
Lifestyle modification, particularly weight loss and appropriate exercise, is important in both prevention and management of osteoarthritis.
About Arthritis Week 2010
Arthritis Awareness Week is an annual event organised by Arthritis Australia to promote awareness, early diagnosis and early intervention to improve and preserve sufferers’ quality of life. This year it runs from March 21st to March 27th.
More information
For more information about the Musculoskeletal Guideline Series - including presenter details, access instructions and associated educational resources - go to the online series summary page and follow the links, or contact the Foundation.