Patterns of routine primary care for osteoarthritis in the UK: a cross-sectional electronic health records study.

objectiveTo determine common patterns of recorded primary care for osteoarthritis (OA), and patient and provider characteristics associated with the quality of recorded care.

designAn observational study nested within a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

settingEight UK general practices who were part of the Management of Osteoarthritis in Consultations study.

participantsPatients recorded as consulting within the eight general practices for clinical OA. PRIMARY OUTCOMES: Achievement of seven quality indicators of care (pain/function assessment, information provision, exercise/weight advice, analgesics, physiotherapy), recorded through an electronic template or routinely recorded in the electronic healthcare records, was identified for patients aged ≥45 years consulting over a 6-month period with clinical OA. Latent class analysis was used to cluster patients based on care received. Clusters were compared on patient and clinician-level characteristics.

results1724 patients (median by practice 183) consulted with clinical OA. Common patterns of recorded quality care were: cluster 1 (38%,

conclusionsPatterns of recorded care for OA fell into four natural clusters. Appropriate delivery of core interventions and relatively safe pharmacological options for OA are still not consistently recorded as provided in primary care. Further research to understand clinical recording behaviours and determine potential barriers to quality care alongside effective training for clinicians is needed. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN06984617; Results.