Table 5 Research recommendations extracted from included policies

Alberta Health Services, 2020 [30]

− Partner with multiple (clinical networks) and Primary Health Care practitioners to better understand the unique needs of specific populations, such as members of indigenous communities and new arrivals to Canada relating to their joint health. Develop and test projects to bridge the gaps (p 26)

− Test multiple conservative management strategies to empower and support patient self-management of OA (p 26)

− Partner with researchers, clinicians, and patients to better understand the unique intersection and interplay between obesity and OA including the development of risk-management strategies to better identify and manage obesity-related risk in the surgical orthopedic population and a framework to provide the most appropriate MSK care for patients living with obesity and osteoarthritis (p 25)

Bone and Joint Canada, 2019 [31]

Evaluate current projects related to management of patients with hip and knee OA, to identify learnings and success factors (p 11)

Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute, 2019 [32]

− Reduce demand for arthroplasty by engaging with researchers, clinicians, and patients to better understand the unique intersection and interplay between obesity and OA (pg.18).

− Test multiple conservative management strategies to empower and support patient self-management. There is currently weak evidence for the effectiveness and appropriateness of OA conservative treatments and therapies, leaving many patients unsure of how to proceed in preventative care and management of the disease. Many of the programs and therapies appropriate for supporting OA management are under-utilized as patients often seek out publicly funded services to avoid out of-pocket patient expenses (p 18)

Health Quality Ontario, 2018 [33,34,35]

Extend collection of patient-reported outcomes to other health care settings, including primary care, to facilitate the delivery of more patient-centred, responsive care (33 p 13)

Bone and Joint Canada, 2014–2015 [36, 37]

Conduct research to evaluate any implementation and/or program transfer/expansion opportunities identified and/or develop an evaluation framework to ensure programs are being developed to meet the needs of individuals with OA across Canada (36 p 15)

Health Council of Canada, 2012 [39]

Continued research and evaluation of strategies for clinicians to foster self-management and engage patients should be supported (p 45)

Arthritis Alliance of Canada, 2012 [40]

− Invest more in OA research to enhance understanding on causes progression, prevention and treatment of arthritis and to develop and implement more effective prevention and care strategies for the future (p 15)

− Promote greater networking, collaboration and stakeholder engagement in research, including meaningful participation by individuals living with arthritis (p 18)

− Increase investment in arthritis research, [including] (1) Develop a long-term plan to increase research investment across all four pillars of research to levels adequate to better address the economic and social burden of the disease; and (2) Concerted effort to assist current funders in increasing funds raised for arthritis research, as well as engage new funders (p 17)

− Enhance knowledge translation and exchange efforts about arthritis prevention, self-management and the effectiveness and efficiency of arthritis care (p 18)

Arthritis Alliance of Canada, 2011 [41]

− While being obese has long been recognized as a risk factor for OA, especially knee OA, the importance of strategies to reduce obesity cannot be underestimated. Research is urgently needed in this area (p 42)

− Develop a national framework by establishing research priorities and strategies to support ongoing improvements in the quality of arthritis care and prevention (p 44)

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Health and Community Services, 2011 [42]

Information about the prevention and management of chronic disease can be collected through research, audits of individual charts, reviews of programs and services, and interviews with individuals, families and caregivers. Can assist policy makers and health care providers to take appropriate actions and develop relevant programs and services to provide better care for individuals (p 15)

Arthritis Alliance of Canada, 2006 [43]

− (1) Determine current access to available effective therapies for arthritis, (2) develop a proposal for the development of a national drug program to ensure rapid and equal access to life-saving and quality-of-life saving medications, and (3) pilot-test a limited expanded access program (p 23)

− Governments must invest urgently in research to evaluate risk factors for sport and recreation injury, with subsequent development and testing of interventions designed to ameliorate identified risk factors (p 26)

Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) Toronto, 2004 [44]

− Future directions for research include: (1) An improved understanding of access to and the quality of primary care for MSK conditions; (2) Ways to improve the organization and coordination of multidisciplinary arthritis care; and, and (3) The relationships between provision of specialty arthritis services and their use, and ways to improve primary care and access to specialty care for MSK conditions (p 82)

− Develop, implement and evaluate a chronic disease model of care that includes disease prevention, health promotion, self-management, and is grounded in best practices. The model should incorporate a collaborative network of health professionals, the key principles of client-centredness, and timely and relevant interventions in a variety of settings (p xvii)

Arthritis Consumer Experts, Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance, No date [45]

In collaboration with “aging in place” experts and the arthritis community alliance, develop an “aging in place” [a concept that sees seniors continuing to live their primary residence with visiting homecare and living space modifications] strategy for those living with chronic disability due to arthritis (p 3)