Understanding the management of osteoarthritis in Australia: a qualitative study of gps and orthopaedic surgeons

Abstract

Purpose: Evidence suggests that current management of osteoarthritis (OA) often falls short of best practice. Previous studies show that health professionals demonstrate a poor understanding of OA and hold unhelpful attitudes and beliefs about the disease. The aims of this study were to explore the attitudes towards and understanding of OA held by Australian general practitioners (GPs) and orthopaedic surgeons, gain a deeper understanding of conservative and surgical management of OA in Australia and identify key barriers and challenges to management.