Quality standard
Quality statement 6: Follow-up
Quality statement 6: Follow-up
Quality statement
Adults with osteoarthritis discuss and agree their follow-up with their primary healthcare team.
Rationale
Most adults with osteoarthritis are able to self-manage their condition using information and guidance on management strategies. If these strategies are not improving symptoms, or if osteoarthritis was raised as a concern during an appointment for another health condition, then it is important they are able to initiate a follow-up appointment with their healthcare professional. Some adults with osteoarthritis may however need planned follow-up, to reflect individual needs and preferences, such as the need to monitor aspects of care or the ability to seek help for themselves. It is important that adults with osteoarthritis are advised to seek follow-up if they are having difficulties with the agreed management approach or if it is not working within an agreed follow-up time.
Quality measures
The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.
Structure
Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that adults with osteoarthritis discuss and agree their follow-up with their primary healthcare team.
Data source: Evidence can be collected from information recorded locally by healthcare professionals and provider organisations, for example, from service specifications and service protocols.
Process
Proportion of adults with osteoarthritis with a documented discussion to agree their follow-up.
Numerator – the number in the denominator with a documented discussion to agree their follow-up.
Denominator – the number of adults with osteoarthritis.
Data source: Data can be collected from information recorded locally by healthcare professionals and provider organisations, for example, from patient records.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers (general practices, primary and community healthcare providers) ensure that processes are in place for adults with osteoarthritis to discuss and agree follow-up arrangements with their healthcare professional, based on their individual needs.
Healthcare professionals discuss and agree follow-up arrangements with adults with osteoarthritis, based on their individual needs.
Commissioners ensure that they commission services in which processes are in place for adults with osteoarthritis to discuss and agree follow-up, based on their individual needs.
Adults with osteoarthritis discuss and agree (usually with their GP or practice nurse) follow-up arrangements, based on their needs and preferences. Most people will only have a follow-up appointment when they ask for one, although some people may need a planned appointment.
Source guidance
Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline NG226 (2022), recommendations 1.5.1 to 1.5.3
Follow-up
The 2 forms of follow-up offered to adults with osteoarthritis are patient-initiated follow-up and planned follow-up. The approach should be jointly discussed and agreed between the adult with osteoarthritis and their primary healthcare team.
Most adults with osteoarthritis, if self-management strategies are effective in improving their symptoms, have patient-initiated follow-up.
Some adults have planned follow-up, when their individual needs and preferences suggest that this is necessary, taking into account:
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treatments or interventions that need monitoring
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their ability to seek help for themselves
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their occupation and activities
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the severity of their symptoms or functional limitations.
Adults with osteoarthritis are to be advised to seek follow-up if planned management is not working within an agreed follow-up time or they are having difficulties with the agreed approaches. [Adapted from NICE's guideline on osteoarthritis in over 16s, recommendations 1.5.1 to 1.5.3]