Effective management of chronic pain in osteoarthritis within general practice – QI&CPD – Category 1 Quality Improvement

After completing this program, the GP will be better able to:

1. optimise medication management of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) who present with ongoing pain symptoms
2. identify patients with OA who present with ongoing pain symptoms
3. review patients with OA with chronic pain and on regular doses of short-acting paracetamol/ codeine or tramadol to ascertain whether they are being managed optimally, in accordance with guidelines for chronic non-cancer pain and current best practice
4. identify patients with OA who may benefit from a reduction in tablet burden
5. identify appropriate treatment options for patients with OA
6. formulate an effective management plan for chronic non-cancer pain in patients with OA with strategies to reduce the risk of addictive and aberrant behaviours with opioid prescribing.