Table 4. GP and rheumatologist management for Vignette 3 (Adhesive capsulitis, symptoms for 3 weeks).
| General | Rheumatologists | P-value | |
| Practitioners | |||
| (N = 612) | (N = 59) | ||
| N (%) | N (%) | ||
| Investigations | |||
| Would not order any tests | 29 (5) | 9 (15) | 0.002 |
| X-ray | 449 (73) | 42 (71) | |
| Ultrasound | 459 (74) | 34 (58) | 0.007 |
| CT scan | 38 (6) | 2 (3) | |
| MRI scan | 32 (5) | 2 (3) | |
| Bone scan | 36 (6) | 3 (5) | |
| Blood tests (eg. FEB, ESR) | 279 (46) | 29 (49) | |
| Blood glucose | 35 (6) | 10 (17) | 0.002 |
| Consultation management/advice | |||
| Expectant observation only | 52 (9) | 2 (3) | |
| Advice on home exercise | 260 (42) | 42 (71) | <0.0001 |
| Activity/work modification | 320 (52) | 38 (64) | |
| Psychosocial evaluation | 99 (16) | 6 (10) | |
| Ice or heat | 130 (21) | 11 (19) | |
| Immobilise in sling | 43 (7) | 0 | |
| Prescribe medication | 508 (83) | 46 (78) | |
| Over-the-counter analgesics | 313 (51) | 29 (49) | |
| Prescription analgesics | 310 (51) | 28 (48) | |
| Prescription NSAIDS | 380 (62) | 29 (49) | 0.05 |
| Short course of oral glucocorticoids | 39 (6) | 21 (36) | <0.0001 |
| Benzodiazepines | 25 (4) | 0 | |
| Low dose anti-depressants | 69 (11) | 8 (14) | |
| Administer a glucocorticoid injection | 88 (14) | 33 (56) | <0.0001 |
| ∧Subacromial space | 61 (10) | 12 (20) | 0.02 |
| ∧Glenohumeral joint | 80 (13) | 33 (56) | <0.0001 |
| ∧AC joint | 6 (1) | 0 | |
| ∧Area of maximal tenderness | 17 (3) | 0 | |
| Refer for image-guided glucocorticoid | |||
| injection | 87 (14) | 15 (25) | <0.0001 |
| Refer for arthrographic distension of the | |||
| glenohumeral joint (hydrodilatation) | 79 (13) | 10 (17) | |
| Administer or refer for suprascapular | |||
| Nerve block | 5 (1) | 6 (10) | <0.0001 |
| Referral | |||
| Would not refer | 46 (8) | 4 (7) | |
| Physiotherapy | 402 (66) | 38 (64) | |
| Chiropractor | 5 (1) | 0 | |
| Acupuncture | 26 (4) | 3 (5) | |
| Orthopaedic surgeon | 170 (28) | 8 (14) | 0.03 |
| Rheumatologist | 107 (18) | 44 (75) | <0.0001 |
| Prognosis - Likely or very likely to: | |||
| Recover within 2 weeks | 30 (7) | 0 | |
| Recover within 6 weeks | 127 (23) | 1 (2) | <0.0001 |
| Recover within 1–2 years | 444 (80) | 54 (92) | 0.03 |
| Have a recurrence within 2 years | 151 (30) | 7 (12) | 0.004 |
| Have permanent difficulties with | |||
| activities of daily life | 114 (22) | 11 (19) | |
| Require surgery | 51 (10) | 0 | 0.01 |
∧
Some people indicated where they would place the glucocorticoid injection even though they did not indicate that they would administer the injection.