SKOAP Study invitation

Your patients with Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) are invited to participate in the SKOAP Study. This study compares different non-surgical treatments with the goal of reducing pain and improving function.

Why is the SKOAP Study important?

The overarching goal of the trial is to determine the comparative effectiveness of conservative behavioral and non-opioid pharmacological treatments and, among those interested in additional treatment following conservative treatment and those inappropriate for conservative care, the benefits of non-surgical interventional treatments to improve pain and function in KOA.

Why should I engage with the SKOAP Study?
  • It's an opportunity to support a study aimed at optimizing the non-surgical management of Knee Osteoarthritis pain.
  • It's an opportunity to engage in a national effort funded by the National Institutes of Health called The Helping to End Addiction Long-term® (HEAL) Initiative.
  • This will be the largest study to date examining outcomes of these treatments in KOA patients (estimated 1,500 participants nationwide).
What will I be asked to do?

Introduce the study to your eligible patients and share a brochure with them.

Which patients are eligible to participate?
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age 18+
  • Have been diagnosed with KOA
  • Have knee pain most days for at least 3 months
Major Exclusion Criteria
  • Inability to pay for interventions
    (insurance or otherwise)
  • Unwillingness to be randomized
What will my patients be asked to do?
  • Follow the treatment group to which they were randomized for at least 8 or 12 weeks.
  • Have 1 or 2 in-person or telemedicine visits for each phase of the study.
  • Eligible patients will be in the study for about a year since SKOAP includes long-term follow-up after treatment.
  • Receive a call, text, or email once a month for up to 2 years to answer questions about their KOA pain and function.
Treatment Group Options:
A. Joint Injection
B. Long-Acting Nerve Block
C. Nerve Ablation

Who should I contact for more information?

skoapstudy@jhmi.edu