Basing musculoskeletal curriculum changes on the opinions of practicing physicians

Aim To establish which musculoskeletal conditions are deemed to be the most important in clinical practice. To use this information to inform the development of a new musculoskeletal curriculum, with emphasis on common and relevant conditions. Methods A survey listing 29 musculoskeletal conditions was sent to 150 doctors in Auckland, New Zealand. Doctors from 5 specialties, including general practice, were asked to score each condition on a rating scale from 0 to 7, to determine which conditions were perceived to be the most important as encountered in day-to-day clinical practice. Results The overall response rate to the survey was 36% and this was predominantly due to the low response rate from general practitioners. Fifteen conditions were given average ratings of 4.5/ 7 or greater and the top 5 of these were as follows: prolapsed intervertebral disc, hip fracture, mechanical back pain, gout at the great toe and osteoarthritis of the hip. Conclusion This study has used a consensus approach to identify specific musculoskeletal conditions deemed to be the most important in clinical practice. The information obtained can be used for designing a contemporary and relevant musculoskeletal medical curriculum.