Participants and randomisation
cognitive deficits
Patients referred by their general practitioner for surgical consultation due to CMC1 OA at the three rheumatology departments between 2013 and 2015 were considered eligible for the study if they could speak Norwegian and had no cognitive deficits. Eligible patients received information about the study, a written consent form and a questionnaire by post. Patients who agreed to participate were scheduled for an appointment with an occupational therapist (OT) at the hospital within 2 weeks after referral. After a baseline assessment, the patients were randomised to either a 3-month multimodal occupational therapy intervention or usual care. In Norway, the waiting period between referral and the actual surgical consultation was at the time this study was conducted between 4 and 6 months, and the intervention was conducted during this waiting period. Patients were assessed again immediately before surgical consultation (approximately 4 months after baseline assessment), and 18 and 24 months after the baseline assessment (
