Barriers, facilitators and referral patterns of general practitioners, physiotherapists, and people with osteoarthritis to exercise

BackgroundBarriers and facilitators of general practitioners (GPs), physiotherapists (PTs), and people with hip and knee osteoarthritis (PwOA) may influence uptake of and referral to guideline-based exercise treatments for OA.ObjectiveTo identify barriers and facilitators of GPs, PTs and PwOA to uptake of and referral to exercise treatments for OA.MethodsAn online survey was circulated to GPs, PTs, and PwOA in Ireland from March- September 2021. Data were collected on demographics, barriers and facilitators, and referral patterns to exercise treatments for OA. Frequency distributions were used to illustrate demographics, barriers and facilitators, and referral patterns to exercise treatments for OA.Results388 stakeholders responded (GPs=148; PTs=154; PwOA=86). Barriers and facilitators were related to (1) stakeholder (e.g., patient tiredness and fatigue), (2) healthcare setting (e.g., appropriate referrals from GP or other sources), and (3) treatment (e.g., low-cost community-based exercise programmes) factors. While 91% of GPs would refer PwOA to physiotherapy if no barriers existed, only 60% would in their current practice. Only 33% of PwOA reported receiving a GP referral to physiotherapy.ConclusionStakeholder, healthcare setting and treatment barriers and facilitators of GPs, PTs, and PwOA influence uptake of and referral to exercise treatments for OA. Future strategies addressin