Draft RACGP Musculoskeletal Clinical Guidelines For GPs In Australia

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Bones / Orthopaedics
Article Date: 01 Oct 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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New draft guidelines for general practitioners and other primary health care professionals covering the early treatment of musculoskeletal conditions will be presented in Melbourne on Saturday, 4 October at the Wonca Asia Pacific Regional Conference/ The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Annual Scientific Convention 2008.

The draft guidelines, developed by the RACGP, cover rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and osteoporosis.

Each guideline includes:

- Algorithms (diagnosis and management) that are designed to be reference tools during consultations
- Recommendations that provide a summary and grading of the available evidence

"The RACGP musculoskeletal guidelines are significant because we know that most current clinical guidelines available are consensus-based, agreed on by peers, rather than evidence-based and there is very limited information on juvenile idiopathic arthritis," said Dr Morton Rawlin, RACGP Director of Education.

"These guidelines are a first for general practice in Australia. We are pleased to see that there has already been significant international interest in this important work," said Dr Rawlin.

"The guidelines focus strongly on the early diagnosis and management because there is an opportunity within the first few months of disease onset to provide treatment that effectively limits structural damage and improves health outcomes," said Dr Rawlin.

This project has been funded by the Department of Health and Ageing and the guidelines have been developed to the requirements of the National Health Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The final release of the guidelines is planned for early 2009.

Copies of the draft guidelines including literature review and full recommendations are available on the RACGP website.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is responsible for maintaining standards for quality clinical practice, education and training, and research in Australian general practice. The RACGP has the largest general practitioner membership of any medical organisation in Australia and represents the majority of Australia's general practitioners.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners