K. Bennell 1,∗, Y. Ahamed1, C. Bryant2, G. Jull 3, M. Hunt4, J. Kenardy5, A. Forbes6, M. Akram6, A. Harris7, M. Nicholas8, B. Metcalf1, T. Egerton1, F. Keefe9 1 Centre for Health, Exercise and Sports Medicine, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Australia 2 Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, and Centre for Women’s Mental Health, Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia 3 Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia 4 Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada 5 Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Psychology and Medicine, University of Queensland, Australia 6 Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Australia 7 Centre for Health Economics, Monash University, Australia 8 Pain Management and Research Centre, University of Sydney, Australia 9 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA Introduction: Pain is the primary symptom in knee osteoarthritis (OA) and results from a complex interaction between structural changes, physical impairments and psychological factors. Evidence supports strengthening exercises and psychologist-delivered pain coping skills training (PCST), a form of cognitive behavioural therapy, to improve pain and physical function in this patient population. Though typically provided separately, there are symptom-, resourceand practical-advantages of exercise and PCST being delivered together by a single healthcare professional. This multisite RCT primarily aimed to investigate whether an integrated 12-week exercise and PCST treatment program delivered by physiotherapists is more efficacious than either program alone. Methods: Participants with symptomatic and radiographic knee OA were recruited from Melbourne and Brisbane, Australia and randomized to one of three groups (i) Exercise; (ii) PCST; and (iii) Exercise plus PCST. The intervention included 10 sessions with a physiotherapist over 12 weeks and participants performed home practice over the trial duration. Measurements were taken by a blinded assessor at baseline, 12, 32 and 52 weeks. Primary outcomes were overall average pain in the past week (VAS) and self-reported physical function (WOMAC) at all time points. Secondaryoutcomes includedglobal ratingof change,muscle strength, functional performance, physical activity levels, health-related quality-of-life and psychological factors. Results: 222 participants were randomized and 184 (82%) completed the 12-month trial. All groups showed improved pain following treatment with no difference between groups. However, the integrated program resulted in significantly greater improvements in physical function compared to either intervention alone at all time points (p<0.05). Benefits of the integrated program over both programs alonewere also seen for self-efficacy andquality-oflife at all time points (p<0.05). The integrated program generally showed greater improvements in psychological parameters compared to exercise alone and greater improvements in functional performance compared to PCST alone. Discussion: Results of this novel study provide strong evidence of the benefits of an integrated exercise and PCST program for physical function and a range of physical and psychological outcomes in the shortand longer-term for people with knee OA. They highlight the potential for a new model of care involving physiotherapists. Advantages of using physiotherapists to deliver PCST may include better integrationwith exercise, increased availability of PCST treatment to those who may not have access to a psychologist, reduced time and cost for patients and reduced overall costs to the health care system.