title: Basing musculoskeletal curriculum changes on the opinions of practicing physicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish which musculoskeletal conditions are deemed to be the most important in clinical practice. To use this information to inform the development of a new musculoskeletal curriculum, with emphasis on common and relevant conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey listing 29 musculoskeletal conditions was sent to 150 doctors in Auckland, New Zealand. Doctors from 5 specialties, including general practice, were asked to score each condition on a rating scale from 0 to 7, to determine which conditions were perceived to be the most important as encountered in day-to-day clinical practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate to the survey was 36% and this was predominantly due to the low response rate from general practitioners. Fifteen conditions were given average ratings of 4.5/7 or greater and the top 5 of these were as follows: prolapsed intervertebral disc, hip fracture, mechanical back pain, gout at the great toe and osteoarthritis of the hip.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has used a consensus approach to identify specific musculoskeletal conditions deemed to be the most important in clinical practice. The information obtained can be used for designing a contemporary and relevant musculoskeletal medical curriculum.
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Fellow, Medical Education Division, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pasley
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Phillippa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poole
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: McQueen
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases; D009520:New Zealand; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires