Table 1 Selection of factors considered most important to patients with OA consulting their GP

Information about treatment for OA

Want to know about risks or side effects from the treatments

6

You have received information regarding treatment for joint problem from your surgery

1

Want to know about pain management [medications]

4

Want to know about the expectations of any possible help, i.e. whether you need an X-ray/pain clinic/operation/investigations/scan/refer to a consultant

1

Want to know about surgery and also what to do when the consultant/surgeon says because of the cause there is nothing they can do

1

Want to get pain down to a level you can cope with

1

Information about OA

What you want is an exchange between the GP and yourself

4

You have received information about your joint problem from your surgery

1

How OA will affect quality of life

2

When you get more pain, you go to the GP

2

Pain has gone – will it stay that way?

1

Consultations are a combination of medical and patient expectations

1

Age means that OA is seen as inevitable

1

Want to know if it’s a serious condition

1

Information about selfmanagement for OA

Want to know about techniques to [self] manage pain

2

You have received advice and support on how you might help yourself to manage or deal with your joint problem

3

Advice about using medications to relieve joint pain

How to best use anti-inflammatory medications

1

You have been offered advice about medications (to relieve joint pain)

4

Advice about exercise or activities

Want to know about should we be doing more or less

2

You have been offered information or advice on exercise or activity to help with your joint problem

3

Referral to exercise or activity programmes

Did certain things to help with quality of life (e.g. went to gym, go swimming)

3

You have been offered a referral to an exercise or activity programme for your joint problem

1

Quality of the consultation

The quality of consultation is important so that you know you shouldn’t just soldier on [live with pain]

3

You are satisfied with the overall quality of the consultation with his/her GP for OA^a

0^a

Consultation to take a holistic approach/to ask patient about feelings and thoughts about the problem*

2

Previous consultation was a waste of time and I haven’t been back

1

Don’t want to waste the GP’s time

1

Follow up review

-

-

You have been given a follow-up review of your joint problem

2

Referral to physiotherapy

-

-

You have been offered a referral for physiotherapy for your joint problem

1

Advice about body weight

-

-

You have received advice about body weight and joint pain

0^b

Referral to weight loss services

-

-

You have received a referral for weight loss services

0^b