Better Hip

No. The best way to evaluate the effectiveness of the Better Hip program is to randomly allocate volunteers to two different treatment groups. All participants, regardless of which group they’re in, will receive information and advice that may help them manage their hip pain.

No. Whether you choose to participate in this research trial or not will not affect your Medibank membership or your premium.

All participants who complete the 12-month follow up (phone interview and online questionnaire) will be given a $50 Coles Myer voucher as compensation for their time. 

Step 1: Eligibility screening

First, we’ll ask you to answer some questions online to check if you’re eligible for the research trial. This should take around 5 minutes. If you’re eligible for further screening, one of the University of Melbourne research team members will call you to discuss the trial in more detail, and to ask you some more eligibility questions. This phone call will take around 10–20 minutes. Depending on your health conditions, you may be asked to get medical approval from your GP before you can participate.

Please note: If your GP does not offer bulk billing, you’ll need pay any out-of-pocket costs for that consultation.

Step 2: Baseline assessment 

If you’re eligible and decide to participate, the University of Melbourne will ask you to sign a consent form. Next, the University of Melbourne will ask you to complete a questionnaire about yourself, your pain, difficulties with daily tasks, physical activity levels, and quality of life. The purpose of this questionnaire is to record how your hip osteoarthritis affects you before you start the study. Answering these questions may take some time; you should allow up to 45 minutes to complete them all. Some questions may seem repetitive, but every question will help the University of Melbourne to collect the right information for the research trial. This questionnaire is completed online, accessed via a secure link sent to your email address.

Step 3: Allocation to treatment group 

At this stage of the study, one of the research team members will use a computer program to randomly allocate you into one of the two treatment groups. Neither the researchers nor the trial participants can choose groups, and participants cannot change groups during the trial. This is known as a ‘randomised trial’.  

If you participate in the trial, we’ll notify your GP about your treatment, and we may refer you to your GP or another health professional if we have concerns about your health along the way. Therefore, you’ll be asked to provide us with your GP’s contact details. 

Step 4: Trial activity

Participants in Group A will access an exclusive online portal for best practice recommendations about managing hip osteoarthritis, including advice for exercise, diet, sleep, mindfulness, and managing pain. 

Participants in Group B will complete six video consultations with a physiotherapist. Additionally, Group B participants with a BMI > 27 kg/m² who are aged under 80 years will complete six video consultations with a dietitian, and participate in a 6-month weight loss program.

Step 5: Follow-up assessments 

After 6 months in the research trial, you’ll be asked to complete a second online questionnaire (about 30–45 minutes).

After 12 months in the research trial, the trial will conclude and you’ll be asked to complete a third online questionnaire (about 30–45 minutes). 

Lastly, 24 months after the start of the research trial, we’ll contact you to complete a final online questionnaire. This is to collect longer-term data on how participants responded to the trial.

No. Your participation is wholly voluntary. If you begin, you can choose to stop at any time. There will be no adverse impact to your Medibank membership if you choose to withdraw from the research trial.

If you’re considering a total hip joint replacement, our No Gap Joint Replacement Program helps eligible members pay no out-of-pocket costs^{^} on a wide range of services as part of hospital admission for a knee or hip joint replacement performed by a participating surgeon at a participating hospital. Waiting periods apply.