Current Research Projects

Equitable treatment of severe osteoarthritis: A population-based assessment of burden and barriers (2008-2012)

Severe osteoarthritis is a growing public health issue for Australia, as reflected in the rising demand for joint replacement surgery.  Severe osteoarthritis is common, yet how the condition affects a person's quality of life and ability to maintain their lifestyle is poorly understood.  This study will investigate the impact of severe hip and knee osteoarthritis on the lives of Australians and whether people with the condition have fair and timely access to treatments such as joint replacement surgery. 

The federal electoral roll will be used to randomly select 5000 Australians who will be invited to participate in this research.  Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire to screen for doctor-diagnosed osteoarthritis and evaluate the severity and burden of the condition.  A subgroup of 100 participants with doctor-diagnosed osteoarthritis will be invited to participate in a semi-structured interview to elicit detailed information about barriers to accessing conservative and surgical management.

Using a national, population-based approach, this study will be the first to explore the broader burden of severe osteoarthritis in Australia, providing detailed information for clinicians who care for people with osteoarthritis and policy makers who influence health care funding. Without this information, planning for future health services cannot be reliably undertaken. 

For further information about this research, please contact:

Dr Ilana Ackerman
NHMRC Public Health Research Fellow
Centre for Rheumatic Diseases
Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital)
The University of Melbourne

Phone: (03) 8344 3146
Email: i.ackerman@unimelb.edu.au