PEAK (PHYSIOTHERAPY EXERCISE AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS) - TRANSLATION INTO PORTUGUESE AND PROPOSAL FOR IMPLEMENTATION IN THE BRAZILIAN SCENARIO

Abstract

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic progressive disease with the presence of pain, swelling and joint stiffness, negatively affecting the functionality and quality of life of individuals, with important consequences for the country's socioeconomic and health system. Patient education, physical exercise and body weight control constitute the primary approach to treating the disease and are strongly recommended by scientific societies and international consensus in the area. However, the vast majority of these individuals do not have access to this adequate intervention, even though it is an effective and low-cost approach. Strategies through public policies to increase disclosure and access to patients have been successfully implemented in some countries. In Portuguese, we still don't have similar projects that allow us to care for and improve the health of individuals with KOA with this appropriate approach. Objective: Translate and make available the physiotherapy exercise and physical activity for knee osteoarthritis (PEAK) course in Portuguese, implement and monitor its use in public and private health sectors in Brazil. Methods: This is cross-sectional, longitudinal, quasi-experimental and qualitative research. Initially, distance training will be carried out for physiotherapists, who will be responsible for carrying out education activities about the disease, the exercise program and physical activities for individuals with KOA. Individuals who wish to train in the PEAK course will be recruited. The scope, effectiveness, adoption of the PEAK course, the perception of individuals with KOA and professionals who carried out the course, and barriers and facilitators of implementation in the clinical practice of physiotherapists will be evaluated. Also, clinical outcomes will be collected from individuals with KOA who will be assisted by trained professionals. A descriptive analysis of the collected data will be carried out to characterize the physiotherapists and the answers obtained by the questionnaire. When the variables are numerical, measures of central distribution and mean dispersion and standard deviation will be used. In order to analyze the effect of the exercise program, a one-way ANOVA will be performed in case of normal data distribution or the Friedman test (non-normal distribution). Time-group interaction and intra-group differences will be analyzed for all variables. For qualitative data, content analysis will be used.