Kelly Grindrod

2007 Research Trainee Award, Post-Doctoral Fellow

Pharmacist-initiated intervention trial in osteoarthritis (PHIT-OA)|,|

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects at least three million Canadians, a number that is expected to grow by 50 per cent by 2020. It is estimated that 85 per cent of Canadians are afflicted with OA by the time they reach the age of 70. As it is unlikely that the health system can keep pace with this rising demand, alternative health care delivery strategies are needed.

Kelly Grindrod is conducting a pilot study to determine if a community-based, pharmacist-initiated intervention can improve quality of care and outcomes in patients living with knee OA. Community pharmacists within the study will identify people with likely knee OA and will initiate the intervention. They will provide a referral to a comprehensive OA treatment program, involving physiotherapy, at the provincial arthritis centre. They will also initiate communication with the patient’s family doctor.

This potential impact of this study is that individuals with knee OA will be identified and treated earlier, and help postpone or prevent joint destruction and the need for joint replacement surgery. This project could improve the cost-effectiveness of OA management, and will also provide data to determine the potential of using a pharmacist-initiated, multidisciplinary approach to manage other chronic diseases.

Completed award term, August 2009

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