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Table 1 Operationalization of the content of current care in general practice in patients with hip/knee osteoarthritis

From: Treatment of hip/knee osteoarthritis in Dutch general practice and physical therapy practice: an observational study

 

Treatment modality

Positively assessed if NIVEL Primary Care Database contains:

Step 1 SCS

Education or lifestyle advise

≥1 consult or visit at the GP due to hip/knee OA

Prescription of acetaminophen

≥1 prescription of other analgesics and antipyreticsa

Prescription of glucosaminesulphate

Not separately assessed but included in anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic products, non-steroids b

Step 2 SCS

Prescription of (topical) NSAIDs

≥1 prescription anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic products, non-steroids b

Prescription of tramadol

≥1 prescription of opioids †

Referral for exercise therapy

≥1 referral to physical therapy due to hip/knee OA

Referral for dietary therapy

≥1 referral to dietary therapy due to hip/knee OA

Step 3 SCS

Referral to secondary care

≥1 referral to an orthopaedic surgeon due to hip/knee OA

TENS

Not assessed

Prescription intra-articular injections

≥1 Cyriax injection due to hip/knee OA

Remaining interventions

Prescription oral corticosteroid

≥1 prescription of corticosteroids for systemic use ‡ (without the application of a Cyriax injection)

  1. Abbreviations: OA osteoarthritis, SCS Stepped-care strategy [21], NSAID non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
  2. aAnatomical Therapeutic Chemical ((ATC) code N02B [12]
  3. b ATC code M01A
  4. † ATC code N02A
  5. ‡ ATC code H02A