Clinical best practice

Health Services Improvement

Health Services Improvement is dedicated to supporting professionals in improving musculoskeletal (MSK) services. It provides a catalogue of "Stories of Change"—real-world examples from across the UK that detail how colleagues are innovating to deliver better patient care. Use this resource to learn about effective interventions and discover ideas that could work in your area.

Keele University Critically Appraised Topics

Critically Appraised Topics (CATs) are a valuable resource for busy health and care professionals. This page links to a collection of CATs from Keele University, which provides concise, evidence-based summaries to help you answer specific clinical questions and inform your daily practice.

MSK-HQ

The MSK-HQ (Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire) is a short questionnaire designed for people with musculoskeletal conditions like arthritis or back pain. Developed by Keele University and the University of Oxford, it allows patients to report their symptoms and quality of life in a standardised way.

The tool helps patients and clinicians monitor progress and response to treatment over time. Its goal is to provide a holistic measure of musculoskeletal health, similar to how blood pressure is used for cardiovascular health or HbA1c for diabetes. The MSK-HQ is available for free non-commercial use, but a copyright license from Oxford University Innovations is required.

Struggling with your MSK consultations? 

We can help. Navigating musculoskeletal (MSK) care can be challenging for everyone. Health and care professionals often tell us they
lack the training and confidence to manage MSK conditions effectively which results in repeated visits from often dissatisfied patients requesting more referrals and more medication. Does this sound familiar?

We know you want to deliver the best care for your patients but that you’re also under incredible pressure. We can help.

Our Core Skills in Musculoskeletal Care is designed to give you the confidence and skills you need to effectively diagnose,
treat, and manage patients with MSK conditions.

Our supportive learning environment, led by expert trainers who specialise in MSK conditions, is a place where you can connect with your peers, share challenges, and practice new skills.

“I actually applied my knowledge and skills I learned from this course to one of my patients with [an] ongoing MSK problem and I was able to satisfy her in terms of unnecessary imaging.”

Impact in numbers

Our training session delivers tangible results. Our delegates reported significant improvements to their skills, knowledge, and confidence in MSK care.

The average total data from our Core Skills in Musculoskeletal Care, delegates reported a:

  • 50% improvement in knowledge of musculoskeletal conditions
  • 44% improvement in examination skills
  • 37% increase in confidence in diagnosing and treating MSK conditions.

Our training sessions are also highly regarded with 93% of all attendees reporting that they would recommend the training to others.

“I feel more confident in assessing, diagnosing, and discussing MSK conditions with patients. I also have more resources to signpost them to for extra help/support.”

What you will learn

Our training is a blend of interactive, practical sessions and expert-led discussions. You'll work through real-world scenarios
to help you:

  • Improve your diagnostic accuracy by sharpening your history-taking and physical examination skills.
  • Communicate more clearly and confidently with patients, ensuring they understand their condition and feel empowered in their own care.
  • Collaborate more effectively with other health and care professionals to deliver the best possible outcomes.

“I do feel more confident with my examination and diagnostic skills which needed a spring clean! I feel better equipped to get the right diagnosis.”

“Hugely beneficial for my ability to explain things to patients with approachable explanations and troubleshooting with common questions"

These testimonials from delegates highlight how the training directly impacts on patient care. Delegates leave with a renewed sense of confidence, which translates into better patient discussions, more accurate diagnoses, and the ability to provide more comprehensive support.

How to register

Are you ready to transform the way you approach musculoskeletal care? Find out more information on all our courses, visit our Training and professional development.

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