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Knee Osteoarthritis (Knee OA)NCT07329023

An Implementation Science Approach to Evaluating Self-Administered Acupressure for Knee Osteoarthritis in Older-Aged Adults in the Community

A study testing Experimental Group: Self-Administered Acupressure (SAA) in people with Knee Osteoarthritis (Knee OA), run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 1 site in Hong Kong.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

This study aims to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of a self-administered acupressure (SAA) program for knee osteoarthritis (OA) among older adults in Hong Kong community centers. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 60 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Knee Osteoarthritis (Knee OA)
What is being tested?
Experimental Group: Self-Administered Acupressure (SAA)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
368 participants
Where
1 siteHong Kong
Study dates
20 Dec 2025to 30 May 2028
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 60 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • ethnic Chinese;
  • aged 60 years or above;
  • able to read Chinese and comprehend Mandarin or Cantonese;
  • fulfilling any 3 of the following criteria. i. morning stiffness 30 min; ii. crepitus on active joint motion; iii. bone tenderness; iv. bone enlargement; or v. no palpable joint warmth (this classification on those with age >50 years yielded 84% sensitivity, and 89% specificity for OA knee diagnosis (25));
  • having knee pain for at least 3 months (26);
  • knee pain 23 on a Likert pain scale from 1-10;
  • having a smartphone (or a family member living together having a smartphone) that is compatible with WhatsApp (based on our previous studies, almost every eligible subject is used to using WhatsApp for social communication); and
  • willing to provide informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • medical diagnoses or conditions that preclude individuals from active participation (e.g., bleeding disorders, alcohol, or drug abuse);
  • knee pain related to other conditions (cancer, fracture, rheumatoid arthritis, and rheumatism) as screened according to the red flags for further investigation or referral in the NICE 2014 Guidelines for Osteoarthritis of the knee (27);
  • score < 22 in Hong Kong Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA) indicating cognitive impairment that may prevent the understanding of training instructions (28);
  • body mass index over 30, the obese Il criteria for Asians (29) (obese subjects will find great difficulty in performing acupressure on acupoints because physical pressure reaching the muscle is required); and
  • ever had knee-replacement surgery
  • Further investigation or referral, either at the screening or during the study, will be made whenever necessary.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Wing-Fai YEUNG, PhD contact

27664151

jerry-wf.yeung@polyu.edu.hk

Hong Kong1 site, 1 recruiting
  • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

    Kowloon

    Recruiting

Other trials in Hong Kong

About this study

This study aims to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of a self-administered acupressure (SAA) program for knee osteoarthritis (OA) among older adults in Hong Kong community centers. Using a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) and mixed-methods approach, the research will assess the reach, adoption, implementation, maintenance, and effectiveness of the SAA program in real-world settings, with the goal of informing scalable interventions for knee OA management.

Read the detailed description

Knee OA is a prevalent and debilitating condition in older adults, often managed with medications that have side effects or nonpharmacological interventions requiring significant behavioral change. Acupressure, a variant of acupuncture, can be self-administered after appropriate training and has shown efficacy in previous RCTs for knee OA. This study will implement the SAA program in district elderly community (DEC) centers across Hong Kong, training frontline workers and older adults to deliver and practice acupressure. The intervention includes two training sessions, ongoing support, and a 24-week follow-up. Effectiveness will be measured by pain reduction, improved knee function, and quality of life, while implementation outcomes will be evaluated using the RE-AIM framework. Qualitative interviews will explore facilitators and barriers to adoption and sustainability.

Objectives:

  1. To explore the reach, adoption, implementation, and maintenance of the SAA program among community service units.
  2. To examine the effectiveness of the SAA program in relieving pain and improving knee function in middle-aged and older adults in real-world settings.
  3. To explore the experiences (facilitators and barriers) of adopting SAA in routine services through qualitative interviews.

Hypothesis

  • The SAA program will be effectively implemented in community settings, achieving high reach, adoption, fidelity, and sustainability.
  • Participants in the SAA group will experience greater reductions in knee pain and improvements in knee function and quality of life compared to the control group.

Design and subjects:

  • Design: Pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) with mixed-methods (quantitative and qualitative).
  • Setting: District Elderly Community (DEC) centers in Hong Kong.
  • Subjects:
  • Sample Size: 368 older adults (aged ≥60), recruited from DEC centers (8 clusters per group, 23 participants per cluster).
  • Inclusion Criteria: Ethnic Chinese, aged ≥60, able to read Chinese and comprehend Mandarin/Cantonese, probable knee OA (based on clinical criteria), knee pain ≥3 months, pain score ≥3/10, smartphone access, consent.
  • Exclusion Criteria: Medical conditions precluding participation, knee pain from other causes, cognitive impairment, BMI >30, prior knee replacement.

Interventions:

  • SAA Group (Focus Group):
  • Two acupressure training sessions (2 hours each, 1 week apart) led by trained instructors.
  • Training includes acupressure technique, knee-health education, practice with feedback, and provision of materials (handouts, rods, logbook).
  • Daily home practice (morning and night) for 24 weeks, with ongoing support via WhatsApp and phone calls.
  • General Health Education Group (Control Group):
  • A general health education booklet will be provided during the study period; will receive the SAA program after 24-week outcome evaluation.

Main outcome measures:

The outcome measures will include treatment effectiveness and implementation.

Effectiveness Outcome Primary outcome measure is the numerical rating scale for knee pain. Other measures include Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Short-Form Six-Dimension (SF-6D), Timed Up \& Go Test (TUG) and Fast Gait Speed (FGS).

Implementation Outcome RE-AIM framework will be used to evaluate the project, which covers five aspects of reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance.

Data Analysis

  • Quantitative:
  • Double data entry; analysis in SPSS 28.0.
  • Baseline differences controlled as covariates.
  • Linear mixed-effect models to compare changes in primary (NRS pain score) and secondary outcomes (WOMAC, SF-6D, functional tests) over time.
  • Compliance and clinical significance assessed (≥2-point or ≥30% reduction in NRS).
  • Intention-to-treat analysis.
  • Qualitative:
  • Thematic content analysis of interview transcripts using NVivo 12.0.
  • Open coding by two independent researchers; themes reviewed for sufficiency and coherence.
  • Cost-Effectiveness:
  • QALYs calculated from SF-6D.
  • Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) computed.
  • Bootstrapping (5,000 iterations) for uncertainty; cost-effectiveness acceptability curve generated.
Being tested
Experimental Group: Self-Administered Acupressure (SAA), Control Group: General Health Education
Keywords
knee OA, RCT, pain, osteoarthritis, implementation sciences
Medical subject headings
Osteoarthritis, Knee, Pain, Osteoarthritis

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Experimental Group: Self-Administered Acupressure (SAA)Other

    Also called Self-Administered Acupressure(SAA) Intervention for KneeOsteoarthritis Management

    Participants in this group will receive two acupressure training sessions (2 h each, 1 -week apart). The SAA treatment protocol was developed based on TCM meridian theory described in previous studies and modified by the PA and CO-A who is an experienced acupuncturist. The acupoints are indicated for knee pain and are commonly used tested for feasibility in RCT study.

    Participants will be asked to perform the acupressure at home in the morning (within 1 h after waking up) and at night (within 1 h after dinner) every day for 24 weeks. Participants will receive a follow-up phone call from the instructor during the first week to remind them to practice and answer their queries.

    During the intervention and follow-up period, the participants can communicate with the elderly staff/ our research ambassador to ask questions regarding acupressure.

  • Control Group: General Health EducationOther

    Also called General Health Education

    The participants of DEC centers in this group will be provided with the general health education booklets despite the same follow-up procedure. The booklets contains general health education information e.g. physical health, sleep health, for the participants' self-reading. The content is based on our previous studies for lifestyle intervention and health information from the government website. They will be told to read the booklet and follow the suggestions in the booklet. They will have the same program after outcome evaluation at 24 weeks.

Study groups in NCT07329023
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Self-Administered Acupressure (SAA) Intervention for Knee Osteoarthritis ManagementExperimentalA training course will be offered to subjects in this group to train them to perform self-acupressure.
Receives: Other: Experimental Group: Self-Administered Acupressure (SAA)
General Health EducationActive comparatorA booklet of general health education will be offered to the subjects in this group by the research personnel. The research staff will briefly explain the content covered by the booklet and instruct the subjects to read the booklet at home.
Receives: Other: Control Group: General Health Education

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain severity

    Numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain severity The NRS indicates the average pain intensity in the recent one week in the knee. NRS is a single Il-point numeric scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (greatest pain imaginable). The NRS is a valid and acceptable measure to detect changes in patients' improvement. NRS is chosen as primary outcome because our previous study suggests that the acupressure treatment protocol is more likely to improve global pain intensity. NRS has been used as the primary outcome in recent large-scale RCTs of acupuncture and procedural interventions for knee OA.

    Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 12, Week 24

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index

    Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC): Assesses pain, physical function, and stiffness. A total raw score ranges from 0-96. Scores are often converted to a 0-100 scale (0=best, 100=worst) for standardized reporting, with higher numbers indicating greater disability.

    Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 12, Week 24

  2. Short Form 6D (SF-6D)

    Short Form 6D (SF-6D): Measures quality of life. It is a standard tool used to measure health-related quality of life (HRQoL) by assessing six key areas (physical functioning, role limitations, social functioning, pain, mental health, vitality) from the SF-36. The score ranges from 0 (worst quality of life) to 1 (perfect quality of life).

    Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 12, Week 24

  3. Timed Up and Go Test

    Functional Test: the Timed Up and Go Test to evaluate knee function. It is a assessment of functional mobility and fall risk, especially for older adults, involving timing how long it takes to stand from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn, walk back, and sit down. The time will be recorded (in seconds) for completing the task.

    Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 12, Week 24

  4. Fast Gait Speed test

    Functional Test: Fast Gait Speed test to evaluate knee function. It measures how fast the subject walks by timing them over a 10 m distance where you accelerate for 2m, walk quickly (safely) for 6m , and decelerate for 2m. The time, in seconds, will be recorded for completing the task.

    Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 12, Week 24

  5. Analgesic Usage

    Medication Use:

    Participants may continue their usual medications, with analgesic use recorded during follow-up. They will be asked to fill in a daily log to record their frequency (in times) of analgesic used.

    Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 12, Week 24

  6. Compliance Assessment

    Compliance Assessment:

    Attendance at training and daily practice logged in acupressure logbooks. They are required to fill in their number of practice in the logbook daily.

    Measured: Baseline, Week 4, Week 12, Week 24

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted9 Jan 2026
  2. Study start20 Dec 2025
  3. Primary completion30 Nov 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 May 2028 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
368 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07329023
Sponsor's protocol ID
KOIS
Status last verified
Dec 2025
First submitted
19 Sep 2025
Last updated
21 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No: We did not obtain consent from the participants regarding sharing data.

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Experimental Group: Self-Administered Acupressure (SAA) in people with Knee Osteoarthritis (Knee OA), run by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University at 1 site in Hong Kong.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 8 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Hong Kong. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Wing-Fai YEUNG, PhD (27664151, jerry-wf.yeung@polyu.edu.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain severity (time frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 12, Week 24). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Sep 2026.

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