Attributes | Levels | |
---|---|---|
1 | Pain characteristics | You are experiencing a dull aching pain, which is there most of the time |
You are experiencing short episodes of more severe, often unpredictable pain | ||
2 | Level of disruption to everyday life | The pain is not disrupting your everyday life |
The pain is disrupting some of your everyday life | ||
The pain is disrupting most of your everyday life | ||
3 | Comorbidity | You are experiencing no other physical health problems |
You are experiencing other minor physical health problems | ||
You are experiencing other major physical health problems | ||
4 | Assessment | The GP asks about your symptoms and their effect on your day-to-day life |
The GP conducts a thorough physical examination of the joints as well as asks about your symptoms and their effect on your day-to-day life | ||
The GP investigates with appropriate X-rays and blood tests as well as asks about your symptoms and their effect on your day-to-day life and conducts a thorough physical examination of the joints | ||
5 | Management | The GP prescribes pain relief and gives verbal advice about your condition |
The GP prescribes pain relief, gives written advice about your condition and arranges follow-up with a practice nurse and physiotherapy referral | ||
The GP offers a promising new treatment as well as prescribing pain relief, giving written advice about your condition and arranging follow-up with a practice nurse and physiotherapy referral | ||
6 | GP attitude | The GP regards your joint pain as part of the normal ageing process that one just has to accept |
The GP regards your joint pain as a legitimate health problem that requires treatment |
GP, general practitioner.