LAUSR

Question: Can an internet-based intervention combining physiotherapist-prescribed home exercise, delivered via videoconferencing, and automated pain-coping skills training reduce pain and improve function in persons with chronic knee pain compared with educational material only? Design: Randomised, controlled trial with concealed allocation. Setting: Community-dwelling participants from Australia recruited via print, radio, and social media. Participants: Both men and women were included if: aged 50 years; knee pain for > 3 months and on most days of the previous month; knee pain during walking in the previous week; mild-to-moderate physical dysfunction; and access to internet/email. Randomisation of 148 patients allocated 74 participants to each group. Interventions: Both groups received online educational material about exercise and physical activity, pain management, emotions, diets, and other therapies. The intervention group received two other internet-delivered treatments. The first was an interactive automated pain-coping skills training program consisting of eight modules and daily practising of pain-coping skills. Regular email reminders to complete the modules were sent. The second was seven Skype sessions with a physiotherapist over 3 months. Most sessions lasted 30 minutes and consisted of a brief assessment and prescription of a lower-limb strengthening home exercise program to be performed three times per week. Participants were also encouraged to increase physical activity levels. Outcome measures: The primary patient-reported outcomes