Table 2 Quality measures for lateral epicondylalgia care and their reliability

I. Patient exam

1. Physical examination: percentage of patients with LE for whom the affected tendon was examined (at least orthopedic tests).

80

-

-

100

100

2. Pain assessment: percentage of patients with LE who had pain assessment upon initiation of a new treatment.

80

-

-

95

100

3. Functional assessment: percentage of patients with LE who had functional assessment upon initiation of a new treatment.

80

-

-

85

95

II. Educational interventions

1. Education: percentage of patients with LE for whom their health provider gave them education and counselling for risk factor reduction strategies.

80

0.8

0.9

-

-

III. 1. Pharmacological therapy

1. Pharmacological therapy for LE: percentage of patients who received pharmacological therapy for LE and who received NSAIDs as first line.

75

-

-

100

100

2. Prophylaxis for gastrointestinal bleeding: percentage of patients with NSAIDs for LE who concomitantly received inhibitors (e.g. proton pump inhibitor, misoprostol, etc.).

24

0.9

1

-

-

III. 2. Physical therapy

1. Physical therapy for LE: percentage of patients who received physical therapy for LE and who received a program of exercise therapy as first line.

42

-

-

95

100

2. Physical therapy for LE: percentage of patients who received physical therapy for LE and who received manual therapy as first line.

42

0.9

1

-

-

3. Physical therapy for LE: percentage of patients who received physical therapy for LE and who received laser therapy as first line.

42

0.9

1

-

-

4. Time of referral: percentage of patients with LE who received corticosteroid injection and who initiated a multimodal program of physical therapy within 14 days of the injection.

17

1

1

-

-

III. 3. Other therapeutic interventions

1

N/A.

N/A.

N/A.

N/A.

14

N/A.

N/A.

N/A.

N/A.