Edinburgh Napier University

  Musculoskeletal pain in adults over the age of 45 is the number one cause of disability world-wide and osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of pain and disability (Global Burden of Disease 2013). The incidence of osteoarthritis is projected to double by 2020 due to our ageing population and the rise in obesity. The NHS spent £353 million (2011/2) on musculoskeletal health in Scotland. This was the 10th largest NHS Annual Programme Budget.
It is estimated that between 20-30% of all GP consultations are for MSK complaints, with 10 million work days lost annually. AHP MSK services deal with very high volume demand but there is duplication across GP, orthopaedic and AHP services. In addition, there is inequity in patient experience in information, access, waiting times and investigations across Scotland where standards of care vary greatly between Health Boards (ARMA, 2011). Hence, it is a government priority to streamline the management of MSK problems and shift the balance of care from secondary to primary community based care.
The UK NICE recommend core treatments such as written information and advice on exercise, diet and physical activity (NICE 2015), but it is not clear if these recommendations are implemented in Primary Care. The MOSAIC model (Managing Osteoarthritis in Consultations) has been evaluated in UK and implemented in general practices in the UK and Europe (JIGSAW-E) with an aim to address this problem (Dziedzic 2017).
This proposal aims to explore the feasibility of implementing NICE recommendations in Primary Care, using the MOSAIC model, to address the unmet needs of patients and healthcare professionals in the management of OA in the Scottish Context.