Table 2. GP and rheumatologist management for Vignette 1 (Rotator cuff tendinopathy).
| General | Rheumatologists | P-value | |
| Practitioners | |||
| (N = 613) | (N = 64) | ||
| N (%) | N (%) | ||
| Investigations | |||
| Would not order any tests | 59 (10) | 22 (34) | <0.0001 |
| X-ray | 421 (69) | 32 (50) | 0.004 |
| Ultrasound | 503 (82) | 36 (56) | <0.0001 |
| CT scan | 4 (<1) | 0 | |
| MRI scan | 7 (1) | 1 (2) | |
| Bone scan | 6 (1) | 1 (2) | |
| Blood tests (e.g., FBE, ESR) | 141 (23) | 11 (17) | |
| Consultation management/advice | |||
| Expectant observation only | 58 (10) | 6 (9) | |
| Advice on home exercise | 366 (60) | 54 (84) | <0.0002 |
| Activity/work modification | 346 (56) | 41 (64) | |
| Psychosocial evaluation | 75 (12) | 6 (9) | |
| Ice or heat | 153 (25) | 13 (20) | |
| Immobilise in sling | 3 (<1) | 1 (2) | |
| Prescribe medication | 387 (63) | 39 (61) | |
| Over-the-counter analgesics | 352 (57) | 35 55) | |
| Prescription analgesics | 137 (22) | 11 (17) | |
| Prescription NSAIDS | 194 (32) | 24 (38) | |
| Short course of oral glucocorticoids | 19 (3) | 4 (6) | |
| Benzodiazepines | 6 (1) | 0 | |
| Low dose anti-depressants | 27 (4) | 4 (6) | |
| Administer a glucocorticoid injection | 172 (28) | 39 (61) | <0.0001 |
| ∧Subacromial space | 208 (34) | 44 (69) | <0.0001 |
| ∧Glenohumeral joint | 15 (2) | 2 (3) | |
| ∧AC joint | 10 (2) | 2 (3) | |
| ∧Area of maximal tenderness | 51 (8) | 0 | 0.03 |
| Refer for image-guided glucocorticoid | |||
| injection | 145 (24) | 21 (33) | |
| Refer for arthrographic distension of | |||
| the glenohumeral joint (hydrodilatation) | 9 (2) | 1 (2) | |
| Administer or refer for suprascapular | |||
| nerve block | 1 (<1) | 0 | |
| Referral | |||
| Would not refer | 88 (14) | 8 (13) | |
| Physiotherapy | 455 (74) | 49 (77) | |
| Chiropractor | 6 (1) | 0 | |
| Acupuncture | 41 (7) | 2 (3) | |
| Orthopaedic surgeon | 89 (15) | 7 (11) | |
| Rheumatologist | 29 (5) | 26 (41) | <0.0001 |
| Prognosis - Likely or very likely to: | |||
| Recover within 2 weeks | 87 (14) | 17 (27) | |
| Recover within 6 weeks | 348 (57) | 46 (72) | |
| Recover within 1–2 years | 454 (74) | 53 (83) | |
| Have a recurrence within 2 years | 336 (65) | 44 (69) | |
| Have permanent difficulties with | |||
| activities of daily life | 123 (20) | 3 (5) | 0.001 |
| Require surgery | 36 (6) | 2 (3) |
∧
Some people indicated where they would place the glucocorticoid injection even though they did not indicate that they would administer the injection.