GONARTHROSIS IN 5 MINUTES - RECOGNISING AND DIAGNOSING KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS

Portuguese National Health Service, consultations range from 5 to 15 minutes per patient due to consultation overbooking . We assessed a knee-course with a pre-course, immediate after-course and 6 months after course evaluation on 6 case-study questions about Gonarthrosis. Method: The course in which was focused only on Knee Osteoarthritis. It had 5 objectives: Clinical history recognition of Knee Osteoarthritis, Focused examination of the Knee, Recognition of X-ray gonarthrosis (AnteroPosterior and Lateral view´s), initiating conservative treatment and when to refer to an Orthopaedic consultation. Six Clinical-cases where presented and questions about gonarthrosis where evaluated in a written paper. First question was about identifying gonarthrosis in the clinical case, starting treatment and asking for a X-ray ; Second was recognizing an acute worsening of a chronic knee osteoarthritis; third was recognizing and referral of knee osteoarthritis in a Young Patient; fourth was recognizing other forms of Knee Pain; fifth was how to manage a patient with no complaints and a diagnosis of gonarthrosis and last was recognizing a prepatellar bursitis. Results: Total attendance to this course were 37 GP´s. Pre course evaluation average score was 3,5 (ranging 1/6 to 6/6 correct answer) , after course evaluation average was 5,2 (ranging from 3/6 and 6/6 correct answer). Six months after, the attendees were requested to respond to the same questions , only 16 responded and average score was 5,0 (ranging 3/6 to 6/6 answer). Conclusions: Focused Knee Osteoarthritis course may help improve a General Practicioner´s practice and referral on this specific pathology.