Effect of stepped care on health outcomes in patients with osteoarthritis: An observational study in Dutch general practice

Abstract Background A stepped care strategy (SCS) to improve adequate healthcare use in patients with osteoarthritis was developed and implemented in a primary care region in the Netherlands. Aim To assess the association between care that is in line with the SCS recommendations and health outcomes. Design and setting Data were used from a 2-year observational study of 313 patients who had consulted their GP because of osteoarthritis. Method Care was considered ‘SCS-consistent’ if all