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Table 4 Recommended information to be provided to patient about analgesic use

From: Australian GP management of osteoarthritis following the release of the RACGP guideline for the non-surgical management of hip and knee osteoarthritis

Information

Number and percentage of respondentsa,b (n = 199)

Number and percentage of respondentsa,b (n = 70)

Signif.

2006

2013

n

%

95 % CI

n

%

95 % CI

Dosing advice

 Taking medication regularly by clock

126

63

56–70

27

39

28–50

<0.001

 Use analgesics pre-emptively (e.g. before playing bowls or before strenuous exercise)

33

17

12–22

6

9

4–17

0.150

 NSAID to be taken on an ‘as required’ basis

24

12

8–17

5

7

3–16

0.359

 When and how to take analgesics on an ‘as required’ basis

13

7

4–11

3

4

1–12

0.697

 NSAID to be taken with or after food

12

6

3–10

3

4

1–12

0.807

 Maximum of 4 g of paracetamol in a day

7

4

2–7

1

1

0–8

0.634

 Ensure adequate dosage of analgesics is taken

7

4

2–7

6

9

4–17

0.170

 Paracetamol Slow Release offers a more convenient option if preferred

7

4

2–7

0

0

0

0.249

 Use lowest effective dose

6

3

1–6

6

9

4–17

0.110

Awareness and management of adverse effects

 Adverse effects of medications (in general)

35

18

13–23

5

7

3–16

0.055

 Adverse effects of NSAIDs (e.g. gastrointestinal bleeding, increased blood pressure)

32

16

12–22

20

29

19–40

0.038

 Potential opioid-induced constipation and strategy for managing constipation

30

15

11–21

6

9

4–17

0.242

 Adverse effects of codeine (e.g. constipation, risk of dependency)

9

5

2–8

11

16

9–26

0.005

 Risk of drowsiness with opioid medications

6

3

1–6

3

4

1–12

0.610

Follow-up

 Regular follow-up to assess efficacy and titrate doses

23

12

8–17

5

7

3–16

0.416

Potential drug interactions

 Avoid other preparations containing paracetamol

10

5

3–9

1

1

0–8

0.339

 Drug interactions (in general)

6

3

1–6

1

1

0–8

0.779

 Check with health professional before taking over-the-counter medications

5

3

1–6

2

3

1–10

0.779

Role and place of different analgesics

 Options of stronger analgesics if required in future

18

9

6–14

22

31

22–43

<0.001

 Paracetamol is the safest option

13

7

4–11

18

26

17–37

<0.001

  1. aRespondents may have more than one response
  2. bThere was an occasional missing value