EUcare4OA

Osteoarthritis (OA) causes joint pain and stiffness and affects millions of people. Many do not receive timely care, leading to unnecessary pain and costly treatments such as surgery. EUcare4OA aims to improve OA care by creating an accessible, effective and patient-centred system that supports early intervention and long-term (self-)management. EUcare4OA brings together healthcare professionals, researchers, digital health experts and patient organisations to develop an integrated care model focused on early intervention, including exercise, self-management and physiotherapy. It builds on best practices from initiatives such as the Beweeghuis model (NL), the Swedish OA Registry and Belgian quality standards, creating a scalable model suitable for different healthcare systems. EUcare4OA will compare existing OA care models across countries, develop a community-based care system, and create a digital platform to improve coordination and self-management.