ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a common bone condition in the United Kingdom (UK). The risk of osteoporosis and fragility fractures increases with age, and with the ageing population in the UK, the incidence is growing. It is imperative that General Practitioners (GPs) correctly diagnose and manage their patients with osteoporosis. To improve the awareness, a treatment pathway was developed in secondary care to guide local GPs. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients at a GP practice with a population of 14,000 have been appropriately identified, coded as osteoporosis, treated, and have followed the recommended treatment pathway. METHODS: This retrospective study identified three patient groups through a search of the practice IT system, using the words 'osteoporosis', 'fragility fracture', 'Quality and Outcomes Framework', and names of all medications that are used to treat osteoporosis. Group 1 consisted of patients currently on the practice osteoporosis register. Group 2 consisted of patients with a coding of 'osteoporosis' or 'fragility fracture', but not currently on osteoporosis treatment. Group 3 consisted of patients currently on osteoporosis treatment with no coding for 'osteoporosis' or 'fragility fracture'. RESULTS: In Group 1, 62% were found to be following the local treatment pathway in the first cycle of the study, and 70% in the second cycle. In Group 2, 45% were found to be following the local treatment pathway in the first cycle of the study, and 43% in the second cycle. In Group 3, 86% were found to be following the local treatment pathway in the first cycle of the study, and 96% in the second cycle. The completed study cycle shows an improvement of adherence of the pathway, from 75% in the first cycle to 81% in the second cycle. The first cycle of the study was presented at the GP practice meeting, which improved the awareness of the treatment pathway. CONCLUSION: This study illustrates that there is a need for improvement in the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in primary care. This can be achieved by improving awareness through continuing medical education about following the appropriate pathway to enhance the management of osteoporosis. Resources need to be allocated for prioritising osteoporosis care to prevent falls and fragility fractures, which have devastating effects on individual patients and the healthcare system.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a major public health problem with the ageing population in the UK. However, there is no known national algorithm for the management of osteoporosis in primary care. Therefore, a treatment pathway was developed in secondary care for patients in the community. AIM: This audit cycle investigates whether patients at a GP practice with a population of 14 000 have been appropriately identified, coded as osteoporosis, treated, and have followed the recommended pathway. METHOD: A search of the practice clinical system was undertaken for three groups of patients coded as: patients currently on the existing osteoporosis register; patients with a code of 'osteoporosis' or 'fragility fracture' but not prescribed an osteoporosis treatment; and patients currently prescribed an osteoporosis treatment with no coding for 'osteoporosis' or 'fragility fracture'. The words 'osteoporosis', 'fragility fracture', 'QOF', and all individual drug names were used in the search engine. RESULTS: The completed audit cycle shows an increase in the proportion of patients following the local guidelines pathway, from 75% in 2018 to 81% in 2019, emphasising the importance of having a guideline for GPs to follow in order to optimise treatment and prevent future fragility fractures. CONCLUSION: This is a pilot project to assess the ability to identify patients who have osteoporosis and review their treatment pathway. The results are promising as the analysed data indicate that GP practice lists can be used to identify and treat high-risk patients for osteoporosis and assess the adherence to the pathway. Using the pathway, GPs can more efficiently diagnose and manage patients.
