General practitioners (GPs)

The following resources are provided for general practitioners (GPs).

GPs may also find it useful to refer their patients with arthritis to the consumer resources on this website, so they can learn about their condition and its management.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standards

The Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard was developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care in response to evidence that clinical care for people with knee osteoarthritis varies and is not always appropriate.

The standard provides guidance to healthcare professionals and people living with knee osteoarthritis on the best way to manage the condition. Topics covered include assessment and diagnosis of the condition, patient education, self-management and review, conservative treatment options including medications, weight loss and exercise, and specialist referral for this common chronic condition.

Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard

Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard – Clinician Factsheet

NPS Medicinewise osteoarthritis resources

NPS Medicinewise provides clinical information and resources to assist in management of knee and hip osteoarthritis, including diagnostic and treatment guidelines, information about weight management services and a patient action plan.

Clinical information for knee and hip osteoarthritis

Patient Action Plan: Osteoarthritis management – a team approach

Methotrexate Notes for Prescribers

Low does once weekly methotrexate is an excellent treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.  However, it needs to be treated with respect by prescribers and patients to minimise the risk of adverse effects and medication errors.

Notes for prescribers of low dose once weekly methotrexate

NPS Medicinewise rheumatoid arthritis resources

Optimal management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis depends on successful collaboration between rheumatologists, GPs and community pharmacists. NPS Medicinewise provides clinical information and resources to assist in managing rheumatoid arthritis including shared care approaches, information and a webinar on low dose methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis, and a patient action plan.

Clinical information for rheumatoid arthritis

Shared care approaches to rheumatoid arthritis: supporting early and sustained methotrexate.

Patient Action Plan: Rheumatoid arthritis – Low dose methotrexate

RACGP – Guideline for the management of knee and hip osteoarthritis

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) first developed Guidelines for the non-surgical management of hip and knee osteoarthritis in 2009. Since then, there has been substantial progress in evaluating the effectiveness and safety of commonly used and new therapies for osteoarthritis (OA). The objective of this new guideline is to present the best available, current scientific evidence for OA interventions, covering all interventions other than joint replacement for the hip and knee.

RACGP Guideline for the management of knee and hip OA (2nd-edition)

Local educational events

For information on upcoming educational events for healthcare professionals in your area contact your local Arthritis office.