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School of Clinical Sciences
   
   
  
 

Weiya Zhang

Associate Professor & Reader in Musculoskeletal Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

Contact

  • workRoom A18, Academic Rheumatology Clinical Sciences Building
    Nottingham City Hospital
    Hucknall Road
    Nottingham
    NG5 1PB
    UK
  • work0115 823 1756
  • fax0115 823 1757

Teaching Summary

Evidence based medicine and study design (BMeSci undergradutes)

Systematic review (N-trans postgraduates)

Meta-epidemiology (Specialists)

Research Summary

My current research interests include:

1. Evidence based medicine: We undertake systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The studies for paracetamol (Ann Rheum Dis 2004;63:901) and topical NSAIDs (BMJ 2004;329:324) have been widely used in clinical practice to guide the treatments in osteoarthritis. They were part of the evidence base for the development of the national (NICE 2008) and international (Ann Rheum Dis 2005;64:669) treatment guidelines for osteoarthritis. Our recent meta-analysis on the placebo effect (Ann Rheum Dis 2008;67:1716) confirmed that placebo is effective to relieve osteoarthritic pain and its effect increases when placebo is delivered through needles instead of pills. We are involved in Cochrane reviews. We lead the development of the European evidence based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis, gout and CPPD, and the global evidence based treatment guidelines for hip and knee osteoarthritis.

2. Epidemiology: We undertake both population-based and hospital-based epidemiological studies. The community based cross sectional study in 4000 individuals found that the joint with osteoarthritis is more likely to have gout (Ann Rheum Dis 2007;66:1374). The hospital based case control study in 3000 participants found that longer ring finger is associated with increased risk of osteoarthritis, especially in women (Arthritis Rheum 2008;58:137). We are currently undertaking a 10-year retrospective cohort study in 3000 community individuals to determine the natural history and risk factors for the development and progression of knee pain and knee osteoarthritis. A risk prediction model for knee osteoarthritis will be developed based on this cohort study.

3. Randomised controlled trial (RCT): A feasibility study has been completed and a nurse led complex intervention package has been developed based on the EULAR and BSR evidence based recommendations for the management of gout. A full RCT is currently under review by Arthritis Research UK to determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this intervention. In addition, we have just been awarded as the Arthritis Research UK Pain Centre, two RCTs have been planned to determine the efficacy of the contextual enhancement therapy and the predictors of response to different analgesics.

These projects are supported by the funding from Arthritis Research UK, BUPA foundation, Europen League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), Osteoarthritis Research Society Internaltional (OARSI), AstraZeneca, etc

Recent Publications

School of Clinical Sciences

D Floor, East Block
Queen's Medical Centre
Nottingham, NG7 2UH

telephone: +44 (0) 115 823 0695
fax: +44 (0) 115 823 0704
email: scs-enquiries@nottingham.ac.uk