title: The Bone and Joint Decade (BJD) initiative: how did Kuwait perform?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The World Health Organization proclaimed the period between 2000 and 2010 as the Bone and Joint Decade (BJD). The BJD initiative set out to raise awareness regarding increasing incidence of musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. The objective of this study was to assess the degree to which the BJD goals were met in Kuwait.
  
  
  METHODS
  A gap analysis methodology was used to identify differences between the ideal state, defined as achieving the BJD goals, and the current state, defined as the extent to which BJD goals were achieved.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our gap analysis indicated that the majority of the BJD targets were not met in Kuwait; however, given the rising assumed incidence and prevalence of MSK disorders in Kuwait, it is critical to outline mechanisms for moving forward.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BJD goals are reachable in Kuwait. Attaining them requires a strong and sustainable commitment at many levels of government, provider organizations and the research community.
authors.affiliation: Elham Hamdan, MD, CMA, Medical Director Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute (FSRI), Salmiya, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hamdan
authors.forename: Fawzi F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Bouzubar
authors.forename: Michel D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Landry
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D014943:Global Health; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D015995:Prevalence; D014944:World Health Organization