OBJECTIVE: To examine the determinants of confidence in managing musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders among primary care physicians. METHOD: A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to a stratified (by urban/rural location) random sample of 798 Ontario primary care physicians who were members of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Two mailings and a reminder postcard were used to increase response. As the main outcome measure, confidence was measured on a 10 point Likert-type scale. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 68.3%. Most respondents were practising in a full time group setting; their average age was 40.3 years. Respondents were significantly more confident in performing a comprehensive cardiovascular examination than a MSK examination. Highest levels of confidence were observed for using nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and managing common MSK disorders. Lower scores were reported for doing a joint injection/aspiration. Rural physicians were more confident than urban physicians in doing a joint injection/aspiration and monitoring patients who were taking disease modifying agents. Previous continuing medical education (CME) was significantly (p < 0.01) related to all confidence outcomes using multiple regression analysis. For many outcomes, men reported higher confidence scores than women after adjustment for various demographic characteristics. CONCLUSION: CME may be the most important and modifiable variable to improve physician management of MSK disorders.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the determinants of confidence in managing musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders among primary care physicians. METHOD: A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to a stratified (by urban/rural location) random sample of 798 Ontario primary care physicians who were members of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Two mailings and a reminder postcard were used to increase response. As the main outcome measure, confidence was measured on a 10 point Likert-type scale. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 68.3%. Most respondents were practising in a full time group setting; their average age was 40.3 years. Respondents were significantly more confident in performing a comprehensive cardiovascular examination than a MSK examination. Highest levels of confidence were observed for using nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and managing common MSK disorders. Lower scores were reported for doing a joint injection/aspiration. Rural physicians were more confident than urban physicians in doing a joint injection/aspiration and monitoring patients who were taking disease modifying agents. Previous continuing medical education (CME) was significantly (p < 0.01) related to all confidence outcomes using multiple regression analysis. For many outcomes, men reported higher confidence scores than women after adjustment for various demographic characteristics. CONCLUSION: CME may be the most important and modifiable variable to improve physician management of MSK disorders.
Authors: Michael J Battistone; Andrea M Barker; Marissa P Grotzke; J Peter Beck; Phillip Lawrence; Grant W Cannon Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2016-06-27 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Michael J Battistone; Andrea M Barker; Marissa P Grotzke; J Peter Beck; Jeffery T Berdan; Jorie M Butler; Caroline K Milne; Tim Huhtala; Grant W Cannon Journal: J Grad Med Educ Date: 2016-07
Authors: Mary J Bell; Ruben Tavares; Francis Guillemin; Vivian P Bykerk; Peter Tugwell; George A Wells Journal: BMC Musculoskelet Disord Date: 2010-03-17 Impact factor: 2.362
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