Researchers at the Kolling Institute have received a remarkable $2.6 million Medical Research Future Fund grant for a large-scale project to reduce low-value care for people living with knee osteoarthritis.
With millions of Australians living with the painful condition, osteoarthritis costs the health system an estimated $4.3 billion each year.
Led by Dr Jillian Eyles and Professor David Hunter, the project will test a practical approach to help health professionals provide the right care at the right time.
Although clinical guidelines recommend education, exercise and weight management as the most effective first steps, two in three Australians do not receive this care. Instead, they’re referred for unnecessary scans and arthroscopic knee procedures with little benefit and potential harm.
This study will support GPs and physiotherapists in areas of Australia where unnecessary procedures are more common, giving them tools and practical support to confidently deliver evidence-based care.
Education, resources and support will be offered, while surgery rates, imaging and specialist referrals will be tracked.
Dr Jillian Eyles said the project is about improving both patient experience and health outcomes.
“We know that for many people, the journey into unnecessary osteoarthritis care starts with a scan. That scan can lead to referrals and procedures that don’t necessarily improve pain or function,” Dr Eyles said.
“We believe we can reduce the burden of painful knee osteoarthritis in Australia by making some simple, practical changes to how it is diagnosed and managed. If we can support clinicians to feel confident diagnosing knee osteoarthritis without unnecessary imaging – and support patients to understand and feel comfortable with that approach – we can begin to interrupt that pathway.”
Professor David Hunter said the heart of the project lies in restoring confidence in evidence-based care.
“Exercise, education and weight management are proven to help people live well with osteoarthritis. Yet too often, these are overlooked in favour of quick fixes that don’t address the underlying issue,” Professor Hunter said.
“This study is about backing our clinicians with the tools they need to deliver best-practice care and empowering patients to expect and ask for that care. If we get this right, we won’t just reduce unnecessary procedures; we’ll improve mobility, reduce pain and help people stay active and independent for longer.”
The grant success was made possible by early philanthropic seed funding from the Girgensohn Foundation, which enabled the team to generate the preliminary evidence required to secure national investment.
Dr Eyles said we are deeply grateful to the Girgensohn Foundation and the NORTH Foundation for believing in this approach.
“Their support helped us build the foundations needed to attract this national funding. It’s a powerful example of how philanthropy can deliver change at scale.”
To support this research click here: Osteoarthritis Research
