New Zealand physiotherapists’ and general practitioners’ treatment knowledge and referral decisions for knee osteoarthritis: A vignette-based study

Physiotherapists’ and general practitioners’ (GPs) treatment knowledge affects the management of people with knee osteoarthritis (OA), but little is known about the OA referral decisions and treatment knowledge of these clinicians in New Zealand. Data were collected from New Zealand registered physiotherapists and GPs (n = 272) using an online vignette-based questionnaire. Approximately two-thirds (63%, n = 172) of participants stated they would likely refer the hypothetical patient with knee OA to another profession. Participants indicated they would refer the woman between the two professions (73%, n = 57 GPs would refer to a physiotherapist; 47%, n = 92 physiotherapists would refer to a GP). However, few participants indicated they would refer the woman to other health professionals (such as 19%, n = 52 would refer to a dietitian). The majority of participants reported they would recommend education (98%, n = 267), therapeutic exercises (92%, n = 251) and weight-loss advice (87%, n = 237) as treatments for knee OA. These results indicate that first-line knee OA treatment knowledge of New Zealand GPs and physiotherapists are generally in keeping within international guidelines. However, promoting interprofessional collaboration with other health professions, such as dietetics, and providing education regarding treatments not recommended for OA is needed to meet all first-line treatment recommendations.