Patient and provider factors related to comprehensive arthritis care in a community setting in Ontario, Canada.
OBJECTIVE
To determine factors that correlate with recommendations for nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions (comprehensive therapy) in community dwelling adults.


METHODS
Eligible participants were >/= 55 years of age with hip and knee arthritis symptoms and disability. Comprehensive therapy was classified as a recommendation for exercise and weight loss (if required) and any pharmacotherapy.


RESULTS
Only one-half of participants received a recommendation for comprehensive therapy. Participants who had seen a specialist and a therapist were almost twice as likely to receive a recommendation for comprehensive therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
In our setting, many people with hip or knee arthritis were not receiving even minimum recommended treatment. Changes in educational and organizational policies are needed to address this situation.
Glazier
Richard H
RH
Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. richard.glazier@utoronto.ca
Badley
Elizabeth M
EM
Wright
James G
JG
Coyte
Peter C
PC
Williams
J Ivan
JI
Harvey
Bart
B
Wilkins
Annette L
AL
Hawker
Gillian A
GA
D003191:Comprehensive Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012219:Rheumatology