Table 1 Osteoarthritis (OA) consultation tasks assessed in the video-recorded consultations between GPs and simulated patients

1.1

The GP elicits the patient’s ideas or worries or concerns about what they think is the matter with them, or the cause of their problem

 1.2

The GP tells the patient the problem is due to OA, the word osteoarthritis needs to be used

 2.1

The GP elicits what the patient knows or understands about OA, the word osteoarthritis needs to be used

 2.2

The GP tells the patient that OA does not always / inevitably get worse, the word osteoarthritis does NOT need to be used

 2.3

The GP tells the patient that OA is treatable: that there are things which can be done to help, the word osteoarthritis does NOT need to be used

 3.1

The GP elicits the specific expectation(s) the patient has of the GP about the problem

 3.2

The GP responds to the patient’s specific expectations (as noted at 3.1)

 4.1

The GP elicits what the patient has tried or is trying for the problem

 4.2

The GP advises about, or prescribes for, pain relief

 5.1

The GP elicits what the patient has tried or is trying for the problem, other than for the pain

 5.2

The GP tells the patient that exercise(s) or physical activity is beneficial for patients with OA or for the patient’s problem

 5.3

The GP tells the patient that losing weight, or not being overweight, is beneficial for patients with OA or for the patient’s problem

 6.1

The GP offers, or gives, the patient general written information on OA

 6.2

The GP offers, or gives, the patient an appointment with a practice nurse to help with OA