Email
Information for health professionals and consumers
On this page: Information for general practitioners & other professionals | Information for consumers | The Hip & Knee Questionnaire
Information for general practioners and other health professionals
Availability
The OA Hip and Knee Service is available at a number of public hospitals in Victoria, including:
- Alfred Health
- Austin Health
- Ballarat Health Services
- Barwon Health
- Bendigo Healthcare Group
- Eastern Health
- Goulburn Valley Health
- Melbourne Health
- Northeast Health Wangaratta
- Northern Health
- Peninsula Health
- Southern Health
- St Vincent's Health
- Western Health
This service better coordinates the management of patients with hip or knee OA and helps manage patients on specialist clinics and elective surgery waiting lists. The service includes the use of the Hip and Knee Questionnaire.
How will the OA Hip & Knee Service help my patients?
The OA Hip and Knee Service will help patients manage their osteoarthritis by developing and coordinating a management plan that best suits their needs. The service provides information and guidance on the best way to manage OA, and can assist in detecting deterioration in health to ensure timely access to surgery when it is needed.
How will the OA Hip & Knee Service help me as a general practitioner?
The OA Hip and Knee Service is committed to working collaboratively with patients and their general practitioners to achieve best possible outcomes in the management of OA. The findings of any assessment and proposed treatment plan will be forwarded for your information or feedback. The service will advise of any significant variation from the proposed treatment plan.
Information for consumers
- What is osteoarthritis?
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. It often affects the knee and hip joints.Cartilage cushions the ends of bones, where the bones meet to form a joint. In OA, this cartilage breaks down, leaving the ends of the bone unprotected. The joint then loses its smooth functioning, which causes pain and stiffness.
- What is the OA Hip and Knee Service?
- The OA Hip and Knee Service provides a program to help you better manage your hip or knee OA. You might consult with several health professionals and the service will help you co-ordinate your care. The service uses the Hip and Knee Questionnaire, which helps your health professionals make decisions about your healthcare. Information about your care will be provided to your general practitioner (GP).
- How will the OA Hip and Knee Service help me?
- The service will include:
- assessment of your hip or knee OA
- development of a management plan that best suits your health needs and preferences
- co-ordination of referrals to other health professionals, and
- ongoing monitoring and review of your condition.
- How can I prepare for my clinic visit?
- Please bring any important information about your health, especially if something has changed since your doctor referred you to our service. In particular, please bring the following to your first clinic visit:
- a list of your medicines (or you can bring your medications with you)
- any relevant x-rays you have at home, and
- a copy of recent blood test results.
- What is the Hip and Knee Questionnaire?
- Before you attend the clinic you may receive a Hip and Knee Questionnaire in the mail or you might be asked to complete the questionnaire when you attend the clinic. The Hip and Knee Questionnaire helps the health professionals provide you with the care you need.
- it includes 11 tick box questions which help us to understand how your osteoarthritis is affecting you
- it takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete
- it may be completed by yourself or with the help of another, for example a family member or GP
- it is available in 12 languages.
The questions cover issues that are important for surgeons and other health professionals to consider when making decisions about your hip or knee care, including the possibility of joint replacement surgery.
Download the Hip and Knee Questionnaire.
- What other care will I receive?
- During your clinic visit you will be asked some questions that will help assess your needs and measure your condition.
You may also be referred to other services, such as:
- physiotherapy
- hydrotherapy
- an education and self-management course
- occupational therapy
- a falls and balance clinic
- nutrition services
- podiatry
- orthotics services
- social work services
- psychological services.
The Hip and Knee Service staff will write to your general practitioner to tell him/ her about the treatment you have received.
- Is there a charge for this service?
- There is no fee charged for your OA Hip and Knee Service clinic assessment.
- Where can I find out more about osteoarthritis?
-
Living with Osteoarthritis - A guide for people with Osteoarthritis of the Hip or Knee
Osteoarthritis (OA) Hip and Knee Service - Information for patients
Arthritis Victoria
Telephone: (61 3) 8531 8000
Web: www.arthritisvic.org.au
The Hip & Knee Questionnaire
The Hip and Knee Questionnaire is a validated tool consisting of eleven questions, taking 5-10 minutes to complete. It collects information about:
- severity of pain
- enjoyment of life
- ability to self care end care for others
- ability to undertake paid employment
- variations in the severity of disease overtime.
A score will be calculated based on the answers given in the questionnaire. That score is then used in conjunction with clinical assessment to prioritise access to specialist clinics and surgical waiting lists. Patients may request help to complete the questionnaire. It can then be reused at regular intervals to identify clinically and socially relevant changes in disease burden and the need for reprioritisation.
Download the questionnaire
The questionnaire is available in 12 languages:
Hip and Knee Questionnaire - English
