Becoming Active in Beating osteoarthritiS: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial on the effectiveness of an information campaign in improving the management of osteoarthritis and quality of care in general practices in the Netherlands
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* Jeanne Oomen
* Henk Schers
* Enny Das
* Sander Koeter
* Cornelia HM van den Ende
* Willem JJ Assendelft

## Abstract

**Introduction** Despite recommendations, non-surgical treatment modalities in knee and/or hip osteoarthritis (KHOA) are underused. An information campaign was developed targeting patients with early stage KHOA and healthcare professionals (HCPs) to optimise timing of referral to secondary care. This protocol describes the development and design of this information campaign and a randomised controlled trial (RCT) on its effectiveness in impacting healthcare utilisation.

**Methods and analysis** The behaviour change wheel was used as a theoretical framework for the campaign design. After an inventory of the literature, a selection was made of factors influencing healthcare use. Effectiveness will be evaluated with a cluster RCT. The study aims to recruit 300 patients in 24 general practices, randomly allocated to intervention or usual care (ratio 1:1). General practitioners and affiliated HCPs are invited to participate in the trial and recruit patients. Patients are eligible to participate if they are Dutch speaking, aged 50–75 years, registered with KHOA at the general practice, without joint replacement nor having considerable walking impairment. The main end point is the difference in rate of referral to hospital care as reported by patients over a period of 18 months. Secondary parameters include quality of care, beliefs about KHOA treatment modalities, physical activity, self-management behaviour and referral rates to secondary care. Patients receive online questionnaires at baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months. Online questionnaires are sent to HCPs at baseline and after 12 months to assess (changes in) beliefs about KHOA treatment modalities.

**Ethics and dissemination** All methods are carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations and ethical approval was waived by the Dutch medical research ethical committee of Arnhem-Nijmegen (file number 2020-7246). Trial results will be communicated to participants and patient representatives via news letters, the public via the Sint Maartenskliniek website and journals of patient organisations and HCPs via congresses and international scientific journals.

**Trial registration number** NL9140.

*   knee
*   hip
*   primary prevention
*   public health
*   rheumatology
*   self-management

### STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDY

*   This study protocol includes a systematic, theory-based approach to design an intervention to improve healthcare use among patients with osteoarthritis (OA) in the Netherlands, building a toolbox of theory-based and evidence-based intervention strategies.

*   The study is conducted in a real patient setting within general practices, making results sufficiently relevant to the real-world context of the Dutch OA population.

*   Randomisation of general practices is performed via a computer-generated method to ensure minimal bias.

*   No blinding or allocation concealment is performed for the current trial.

*   Participants are all from the Nijmegen region, which might influence the generalisability of the study data.

*   Final results will determine whether characteristics correspond to the general population of Dutch primary care.

## Introduction

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability of posture and movement worldwide and associated with an extremely high economic burden. This burden is largely attributable to the effects of disability, comorbid disease and the expense of treatment. OA is expected to become the most common disease by 2040.1 OA is characterised by pain and stiffness, which can impair daily functioning and decrease physical activity (PA). Although there are no curative treatment options for OA, multiple effective non-surgical and surgical treatment options for reducing pain and improving functioning and quality of life are available. International guidelines recommend a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities as primary approach for patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis (KHOA), including psycho-educational interventions to improve self-management and promote PA, exercise therapy, weight reduction and pain medication. In general, a stepped-care approach is advocated,2 3 in which more advanced treatment options are only considered if previous options failed to produce satisfactory results. In other words, joint replacement surgery is only considered for patients with severe pain and reduced functioning once non-surgical treatments become unsuccessful.

Despite recommendations, non-surgical treatment modalities in KHOA are underused,3–14 while timely usage of these treatment modalities is advocated and may prevent untimely surgery. Despite strong evidence supporting their effectiveness, patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) perceive non-surgical treatment options, such as enhancement of self-management, exercise and weight reduction as unappealing and considered to have ‘low value’.15 On the other hand, advanced treatment options like surgery are considered to be a ‘quick fix’,16 despite the substantial number of patients not satisfied with the results of total joint replacement (TJR).17 18 Undergoing total knee replacement too early may result in little or no benefit in terms of pain relief and functional improvement,19–21 while exposing the patient to the risks of a major operation.22 In addition, early referral to secondary care services, such as the orthopaedic surgeon, might give patients the perception that they will eventually need surgery. This may lead to undervaluation of conservative management,23 and thus negatively affect patient motivation to participate in conservative management.

Another potential hurdle is that general practitioners’ (GPs) and medical specialists’ outcome expectations about non-surgical treatment options often do not match with recommendations from guidelines. Their confidence in competencies of other healthcare providers such as physiotherapists and dietitians is low.8 24 25 As a result, patients with OA may receive conflicting information about effective, non-surgical treatment options from various sources. Receiving conflicting information is associated with undesirable outcomes like non-adherence to treatment.26 27 It is important that patients receive a single, unified perspective from healthcare providers on treatment options and strategies. In addition, negative beliefs or unrealistic thoughts about treatment modalities might influence the choice of treatment.5 6 9 One of those false beliefs, and possibly the most worrisome, is that OA is the result of wear and tear, and that exercise is harmful for the joints, which completely counters the guideline recommendations of regular exercise to prevent functional decline.28 This emphasises the importance that patients receive up-to-date, evidence-based information about the benefits and possible disadvantages of non-surgical and surgical treatment options.

To achieve this, we developed an information campaign that uses a variety of different evidence-based persuasive communication techniques. This article describes both (a) the development and content of this information campaign aimed to increase (1) awareness and knowledge of patients and their HCPs about OA and treatment options and (2) quality of communication and interdisciplinary collaboration, targeting both patients with early stage KHOA and HCPs and (b) the design of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) on the effectiveness of this campaign in impacting patterns of healthcare consumption.29 The primary aim of this intervention is to optimise timing of referral to secondary care.

## Methods

### Development and content of information campaign

For the development of the current intervention, a project group was formed consisting of members in the fields of behavioural communication (JO, ED), physiotherapy and rheumatology (CHMvdE), orthopaedics (SK) and primary care (HS, WJJA), along with two patient representatives (Jolanda Marneef, Sandra Ahoud). The process of intervention development is shown in the logic model in figure 1. A logic model is a diagram of how an intervention is proposed to work, showing mechanisms by which an intervention influences the proposed outcomes30 (see also O’Cathain *et al*31 for a framework of actions for intervention development). We will discuss the elements of this logic model in the upcoming paragraphs.

![Figure 1](http://bmjopen.bmj.com/https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/14/11/e083496/F1.medium.gif)

[Figure 1](http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/11/e083496/F1)

Figure 1 
Logic model of intervention. HCP, healthcare professional; KHOA, knee and/or hip osteoarthritis; PA, physical activity.

We chose the behaviour change wheel (BCW)32 as a theoretical framework for the campaign design. The BCW offers a synthesis of a wide range of theoretical constructs from different theories of behaviour and behaviour change. It is supported by an extensive list of clearly labelled and defined behavioural change techniques on which to base intervention content.33 A behaviour change technique is an active component of an intervention designed to change behaviour, such as goal setting or framing/reframing. At the heart of the BCW is the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model, which suggests that behaviour change occurs when there is a change in an individual’s capability, opportunity and/or motivation. A complete description of the model can be found in online supplemental file 1.

### Supplementary data

[[bmjopen-2023-083496supp001.pdf]](pending:yes)

We followed a stepwise approach to the intervention design. The first step within the intervention design was to make an inventory of literature concerning underlying behaviours, identifying influencing factors (ie, barriers and facilitators) in the use of conservative treatment among patients with OA and their HCPs. Next, a selection was made of those factors expected to have the largest influence on health behaviours. Third, appropriate content and delivery modes were chosen to develop campaign materials and campaign evaluation methods. We identified behavioural change techniques most likely to bring about change in behaviours with help of the ‘Behavioural Change Technique Theory and Technique tool’, a heat map linking behavioural change techniques to underlying behaviours.34

### Inventory of underlying behaviours

We systematically searched the literature for studies on factors influencing KHOA healthcare use (details are provided in online supplemental file 2). In total, 12 articles were identified focusing on influencing factors on patient or HCP level, or both. These factors for using conservative treatment modalities were then mapped against the COM-B model. Table 1 provides a complete overview of the influencing factors to use conservative treatment of patients and HCPs as retrieved from the literature.

### Supplementary data

[[bmjopen-2023-083496supp002.pdf]](pending:yes)

View this table:
[Table 1](http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/11/e083496/T1)

Table 1 
Influencing factors retrieved from literature

### Choice of content and delivery modes

The primary aim of the campaign is to positively impact beliefs about conservative treatments of patients as well as their healthcare providers. To achieve this, we embedded a variety of different techniques from persuasive communication, including evidence-based message strategies such as framing,35 36 narratives37 38 and metaphors39 40 in written material, an educational programme for patients, and education for HCPs. During multiple brainstorm sessions of the project group, the focal point emerged to focus on promoting conservative treatment in terms of exercise and pain medication. Four themes arose: (1) what is OA, (2) dealing with OA-related pain, (3) alleviate symptoms with PA and (4) understanding pain following PA. Details of this process can be found in online supplemental file 3. Subsequently, a number of key messages were formulated (table 2) on the basis of findings from existing literature10 41 42 and additional brainstorming sessions with the project group as well as patient representatives. During these brainstorming sessions, participants were asked to rate several statements and were invited to make additional suggestions.

### Supplementary data

[[bmjopen-2023-083496supp003.pdf]](pending:yes)

View this table:
[Table 2](http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/11/e083496/T2)

Table 2 
Key messages of information campaign

The key messages were processed in informational material including (digital) posters and flyers, and an infographic, to be distributed in the general practices and delivered to the patient digitally. The theory behind these key messages is the notion that mere exposure to an object can lead to a more positive attitude towards the object.43 Key messages contained framing (phrasing a statement that describes a choice or outcome in terms of its positive (gain) or negative (loss) features) and testimonials of both a doctor (Dr Bart) and a patient (Babs), based on findings of a previous study of our research group,44 and included rhyme for better processing and stronger persuasiveness of the message.45 46 In addition, the collaboration between the three hospitals, the regional GP cooperatives and the regional physiotherapists association within the project will be emphasised in the material, as messages from a credible source are processed better and have a positive impact on intentions.47–49

Furthermore, we aim to increase knowledge and awareness with two educational sessions given to the patient by a multidisciplinary team of HCPs. The content of these sessions is based on an educational programme developed for a previous pilot study,10 in which consensus-based answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about OA and treatment modalities were incorporated. Topics include a general explanation of OA, the importance of PA and a healthy diet, medication, surgery and facilities in the area. Patients also receive a course guide with extensive information on OA and several exercises to help them self-manage the disease. The educational sessions are given by a GP and a physical therapist (PT). The informational material in these sessions are enriched with above-mentioned key messages, experiences of model patients and a social group activity. In addition, an orthopaedic surgeon of each participating hospital participated in an educational video with information about TJR, which is presented at one of the educational sessions and online. Furthermore, online events will be organised every 2 months, in which different disciplines alternately answer questions from patients.

As for the HCP, the primary aims within the campaign are to offer practical skills and tools that facilitate change, to provide them with the necessary information to adhere to guideline recommendations and to improve collaboration. As such, a multidisciplinary workshop is developed about the importance of good communication about OA and consistency of patient information among the different disciplines, simultaneously increasing knowledge and awareness of the stepped-care approach, and on promoting collaboration between healthcare providers. GPs of the intervention group and PTs to whom patients are regularly referred by these GPs will be invited to participate. Healthcare providers will be reminded of several techniques that enhance self-efficacy during patient interviews,50 as self-efficacy is found to be a key mediator of patient health behaviour.51–54 An infographic will be shared to be used during consultations, in order to induce better processing of health information by the patient,55–57 and to act as a check for health professionals to inform patients about all available treatment options.

Campaign materials were developed based on consensus within the project group and the two patient representatives. Pilot versions of campaign materials were evaluated with patients and HCPs in the study area via focus group discussions on aesthetic appreciation, processing fluency and understandability and revised where necessary. As the campaign is a joint effort, informational materials were designed to have a regional ‘look and feel’ by a professional local graphical designer (BuroRub). In addition, the educational video involving orthopaedic surgeons was developed by a team within the Sint Maartenskliniek that is experienced in the creation of audio-visual content. A complete overview of the chosen content and modes of delivery is given in tables 3 and 4. Numbers in parentheses refer to the specific identification number that was assigned to the behavioural change technique in previous literature.58 Definitions of chosen behavioural change techniques can be found in online supplemental file 4. An extensive overview of the intervention framework is provided in online supplemental file 3.

### Supplementary data

[[bmjopen-2023-083496supp004.pdf]](pending:yes)

View this table:
[Table 3](http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/11/e083496/T3)

Table 3 
Content and delivery modes for patients

View this table:
[Table 4](http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/11/e083496/T4)

Table 4 
Content and delivery modes for HCP

### Study design

The effect of this information campaign on patterns of healthcare utilisation will be examined in a cluster RCT. After recruitment and baseline assessments of patients and HCPs affiliated with those practices has taken place, 24 participating general practices will be randomised into either the experimental or control group. Then, the information campaign will start in the (reference area of) practices allocated to the experimental group. Data collection comprises online questionnaires (to patients and HCPs), and extraction of electronic patient records (Huisarts Informatie Systeem (HIS)) of participating practices. Recruitment of patients for the study was scheduled between August 2022 and February 2023. The follow-up duration is 18 months. A flow chart of the study design can be found in online supplemental file 5.

### Supplementary data

[[bmjopen-2023-083496supp005.pdf]](pending:yes)

### Participants

The study population will consist of patients with KHOA within 24 general practices and their related HCPs.

### Inclusion criteria

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, general practices must meet the following criteria:

*   Affiliated with one of the GP cooperatives.

*   ≥12 registered patients with KHOA eligible to participate.

*   Willing to provide access to health information system.

*   Having professional communication with PT(s).

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, HCPs must be one of the following:

*   A GP working in one of the included practices.

*   A practice assistant or practice nurse working in one of the included practices.

In order to be eligible to participate in this study, patients must meet all of the following criteria:

*   Registered with KHOA at the general practice (International Classification of Primary Care: L90, L89).

*   Age 50–75 years.

*   Having a painful knee and/or hip for at least the past 3 months.

*   Having a painful knee and/or hip >15 days of the past month.

*   Morning stiffness <30 min (knee) and/or <60 min (hip).

*   Having an email address.

### Exclusion criteria

Patients meeting any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

*   Age >75 years.

*   Unable to communicate and complete online questionnaires in Dutch.

*   Wheelchair users or a walking distance of <100 m.

*   Either scheduled or having one or more replacements of hip and/or knee.

### Study procedure

#### Recruitment of general practices and HCPs

General practices affiliated either with the GP cooperative in the Nijmegen area *NEO GP care* (*NEO huisartsenzorg* in Dutch) or the *Radboudumc Family Medicine Network* (*Netwerk Huisartsen Praktijken* in Dutch) will be invited to participate in the study by the executing researcher (JO) by means of an informational letter and a follow-up telephone call after 1 week. Within the included practices, GPs, practice assistants and practice nurses are asked to participate, and practices are asked to provide contact details of PTs to whom patients are regularly referred. The executing researcher will invite these PTs for the multidisciplinary workshops.

#### Recruitment and screening procedure of patients

Potential participants (aged 50–75 years and diagnosis of KHOA) will be invited for the study on the basis of extractions from medical records by their GP by means of a standard template letter of invitation. To minimise the influence study information may have on control groups,59 participants in both conditions will receive the same information letter stating that the aim of the study is to monitor and evaluate the quality of care for patients with (probable) OA. The information letter can be found in online supplemental file 6. Consenting patients will be contacted by phone and questioned on the remaining inclusion and exclusion criteria (documented via CastorEDC) by the researcher (JO).

### Supplementary data

[[bmjopen-2023-083496supp006.pdf]](pending:yes)

#### Randomisation, allocation concealment and blinding

To ensure balance between clusters on relevant variables, we will use a constrained randomisation procedure.60 This computer-generated method accommodates multiple covariates, both categorical and continuous. Relevant covariates to be accounted for in the constrained randomisation procedure are: (1) number of patients included, (2) general practice in a healthcare centre (yes/no) and (3) geographical location (outside city area, city centre, city north, city other). No additional allocation concealment or blinding will be performed.

### Study parameters

#### Main study parameter

The primary end point will be the difference in referral rates to secondary care between groups (intervention vs control) as reported by patients over a period of 18 months (treatment for KHOA restricted to primary care (yes/no)).

#### Secondary study parameters

Secondary study parameters for patients include general health status, pain (at rest and during activity) and daily functioning, pain coping, PA, quality of care, beliefs about KHOA treatment modalities, PT, pain medication and self-management behaviour. In addition, we assess cost-effectiveness of the information campaign compared with usual care; and we assess barriers and facilitators for network collaboration as perceived by HCPs after having attended a multidisciplinary workshop.

#### Other study parameters

Other study parameters include referral rates to OA healthcare services.

### Assessments

#### Online questionnaire for patients

Data collection comprises online questionnaires (CastorEDC) at baseline and follow-up at 6, 12 and 18 months. The first questionnaire is estimated to take 30 min to complete, the others 20 min. Participants receive an email with a unique link to the questionnaire and are reminded after 2 weeks if they have not yet completed the questionnaire. Each question needs to be answered in order to proceed. To promote participant retention and complete follow-up, participants will be contacted by phone if they have not completed the questionnaire after this reminder. A schedule of the assessments can be found in online supplemental file 7.

### Supplementary data

[[bmjopen-2023-083496supp007.pdf]](pending:yes)

#### Baseline characteristics

*   Sociodemographic characteristics of patients: gender, birth year, length, weight, living situation (single or cohabiting), education (secondary education or lower (ie, elementary, high school and technical or vocational training); higher education (ie, research universities and universities of applied sciences)).

*   Disease characteristics: duration of complaints, number of painful knee and hip joints, number of other painful joints, comorbidities (Central Bureau of Statistics Health Survey, Diseases and Disorders).61

#### General health status

General health status will be assessed by the EuroQol five-dimensional five-level (EQ-5D-5L).62 From the EQ-5D-5L classification system, a utility index will be calculated.

#### Pain and daily functioning

Pain at rest and pain during activity will be assessed by a standardised Numeric Rating Scale. Daily functioning will be assessed by the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS).63 The LEFS is a 20-item condition-specific questionnaire designed to be applicable to individuals with musculoskeletal conditions of the lower extremity. Each item of the LEFS scores on a 5-point scale ranging from 0 to 4 points. Accordingly, LEFS scores range from 0 to 80 points, with higher scores representing higher levels of functioning. The Dutch version of the questionnaire is validated in patients with OA.64

#### Pain coping

To assess passive pain coping behaviour, the ‘resting’ subscale of the pain-coping inventory (PCI)65 will be used. This subscale consists of five statements on a 4-point scale (rarely or never, sometimes, often, very often). As the PCI assesses participants’ typical response to pain across situations and does not assess coping with a specific episode of pain, some modifications of the instructions have been made for assessing specific OA pain episodes.

#### Physical activity

PA will be measured by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). The IPAQ-SF is a structured questionnaire, consisting of seven open-ended items in which respondents are asked to fill in the number of days and time spent doing vigorous and moderate activities, walking and sitting in the last 7 days. The IPAQ-SF is considered a reasonably valid tool to assess PA.66

#### Healthcare use

Healthcare use will be assessed by a questionnaire used in previous studies on similar patient populations,67 consisting of the following: which HCPs they visited in the preceding 6-month period related to their KHOA complaints, the number of visits to these professionals, the use of pain medication and medical devices, whether they received additional diagnostics (ie, X-rays, blood tests, MRI) for their KHOA complaints and whether they received a TJR in the hip and/or knee in the preceding 6 months, or if they are on the waiting list for one. Direct medical costs due to OA will be calculated on the basis of the healthcare use questionnaire. Cost prices as stated in the Dutch costing manual will be used to calculate direct medical costs in order to establish cost-effectiveness of the information campaign compared with usual care. The costing manual offers reference prices for a broad range of healthcare services.68

#### Quality of care

A questionnaire regarding patient-reported quality indicators (QIs) for OA care is used to assess quality of care.69 This OA-QI questionnaire is translated and validated in Dutch by members of our research group according to the forward and backward translation method,70 and consists of 18 binary items (yes/no) related to OA guideline recommendations. Examples of QIs are “Have you been offered a referral to a health professional who can advise you about physical activity and exercise?” and “If you have joint pain, was paracetamol the first pain killer recommended?” In addition, several items of the Consumer Quality Index (CQI) on experiences with the care of the GP and other care providers in the general practice71 of the participants will be used. Items include questions to assess comprehensibility of information and advice as given by the HCPs, cooperation between HCPs and whether they received contradictory information from different HCPs within the practice. The CQI is a standardised method for measuring, analysing and reporting customer experiences in healthcare.72

#### Beliefs about treatment options

The Treatment beliefs in OsteoArthritis questionnaire is used to determine beliefs about treatment options of patients and HCPs within the general practices. It is a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behaviour, developed and validated by members of our research group.7 It assesses patients’ beliefs about various treatment modalities of hip and knee OA with five modules (PA, pain medication, physiotherapy, injections and TJR) and a total of 60 items consisting of a 5-point Likert scale (agree–disagree). Examples of items are “I think that doing exercise activities involves risks”, “I am afraid of using pain medication” and “My quality of life increases with physiotherapy”.

#### Self-management behaviour

The Patient Activation Measure (PAM)-13 will be used to assess self-management behaviour among patients. The PAM-13 questionnaire73 measures the patient’s self-reported knowledge, skills and confidence to cope with his/her own health with 13 questions consisting of a 4-point Likert scale (totally agree–totally disagree). The PAM-13 questionnaire is scored on a 13–52 scale; a higher score indicates higher level of patient activation. The Dutch version of the PAM-13 shows good psychometric capabilities for measuring patient activation.74

### Online questionnaire for healthcare providers

Online questionnaires will be sent to all participating HCPs within the general practices at baseline and 12 months follow-up to assess changes in beliefs. A schedule of the assessments can be found in online supplemental file 7. The following will be assessed:

*   Professional characteristics (T0 only): geographical work location, medical profession and specialisations, number of years in active practice and practice size.

*   TOA questionnaire (see above) at baseline and after 12 months.

### HIS extractions

Furthermore, data from the information system of participating practices will be used to assess differences in referral rates between intervention and control practices. In the Netherlands, there is a nationwide information system for GPs (HIS). Referral rates to secondary care because of knee and/or hip complaints for all patients between 50 and 75 years, including patients not participating in this study, will be extracted from electronic patient records of all participating practices at baseline and at 12 months. Thus, per practice an aggregated number (number of patients referred in the previous 6 months divided by the number of patients with knee and/or hip complaints) will be derived. These data will also be used to cross-validate self-reported healthcare use of patients.

### Sample size

We base our power calculation on the BART (Behandelstrategie ARTrose) study, a cohort study in the region of Nijmegen. In this cohort study, 313 patients with KHOA were recruited by GPs.75 In the BART study, after 2 years treatment of OA was restricted to primary care in 47% of the patients.3 On basis of consensus of the authors, a minimal important difference of 20% was defined.

Assuming that treatment of 50% of the patients in the control group will be restricted to primary care whereas treatment of 70% of the patients in the experimental group will be restricted to primary care and taking intracluster correlation into account, a sample size of 240 patients is needed when α=0.05, 1−β=0.80 and intraclass correlation coefficient=0.05.76 Allowing for 20% loss to follow-up, at least 300 patients are needed to answer the research question.

### (Planned) statistical analysis

All statistical analyses will be performed using STATA V.13 ([www.STATA.com](http://www.STATA.com)). Multilevel analysis will be used to account for the hierarchical nature of the data (different levels: patients, GPs and practice). Differences in the primary and secondary outcomes between the two arms (control vs intervention group) at T6, T12 and T18 will be assessed by mixed model repeated measures analyses, adjusting for the covariate treatment group (ie, control or intervention group). Direct medical costs will be computed by multiplying the cost prices with the usage frequency as reported by participants. To determine the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio differences mean costs will be divided by mean difference in quality-adjusted life-years between the two groups as assessed through the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire.

### Strengths and limitations of this study

Behaviour change interventions are often poorly described, making it difficult to repeat an intervention accordingly and replicate its effects in subsequent research. This study protocol includes a systematic, theory-based approach to design an intervention to improve healthcare use among patients with OA in the Netherlands, building a toolbox of theory-based and evidence-based intervention strategies. Furthermore, the study is conducted in a real patient setting within general practices, making results sufficiently relevant to the real-world context of the Dutch OA population. However, as participants are all from the Nijmegen region, generalisability might be an issue. A further limitation might be that no blinding or allocation concealment is performed for the current trial. However, randomisation is performed via a computer-generated method to ensure minimal bias.

### Trial registration

International Clinical Trial Registry Platform, trial number NL9140, registration date 23 December 2020.

### Public and patient involvement

Two patient representatives (JM, SA) from the Netherlands actively collaborated with researchers in a project group during the entire iterative design process of the Becoming Active in Beating osteoarthritiS information campaign, as presented in our ‘Methods’ section. They were involved in the design of the intervention, choice for the theoretical framework, formulation of goals, choice of the applied behaviour change techniques, iterative development of the (graphical) design, content and pilot test among others.

## Ethics statements

### Patient consent for publication

Not applicable.

## Footnotes

*   X @SjaanOomen, @hjsch64

*   Contributors All authors including the patient representatives (JM, SA) participated in the design of the study. JO will carry out the data collection. CHMvdE and JO are responsible for the analysis and interpretation of the data. All authors were responsible for writing the article. Furthermore, all authors take full responsibility for the integrity of the study and approved the final version of the manuscript. The guarantor (CHMvdE) accepts full responsibility for the finished work and/or the conduct of the study, had access to the data and controlled the decision to publish.

*   Funding This work is supported by the Regional Junior Researcher Grant of the Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen and the Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (grant number: Rv819.52674), contact person: Dagmar Eleveld (Dagmar.Eleveld-Trancikova@radboudumc.nl).

*   Competing interests None declared.

*   Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting, or dissemination plans of this research. Refer to the 'Methods' section for further details.

*   Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

*   Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.

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