What are the level 1 treatment options?

The level 1 evidence base for PFP supports exercise, foot orthoses, and patellar taping and bracing, with a tailored combined approach recommended.1 Although risks related to PFP intervention options are minimal, the patient must consider several things. For example, combining multiple interventions may cost more time and money. For example, when choosing an evidence-based exercise approach for a patient with PFP, the combination of quadriceps and hip exercise appears to be more effective than quadriceps alone.3 However, completing more exercises will also be more time consuming, and the patient may be unwilling or unable to make the required commitment. Foot orthoses do not require the same time commitment as exercise rehabilitation, so this may be more attractive for some patients. However, orthoses must fit in appropriate footwear and are considered by expert opinion to be less effective than exercise rehabilitation.1 This illustrates the panoply of decisions that can quickly arise from even a simple clinical context (ie, one pathology, fairly clear evidence).

What is shared decision-making and are we doing it?

Shared decision-making (SDM) involves a collaborative approach between patient and clinician to decision-making based on available treatment options and associated evidence for benefit and harm, alongside the patient's values and preferences.4 Légaré et al 5 recently outlined three elements that underpin the rationale behind policymakers’ embracing SDM. In summary, policymakers believe shared decision-making:

1. Is a fundamental right of patients. They must be involved in treatment decisions

2. May improve healthcare efficiency (ie, reduce provision of ineffective interventions and increase provision of effective interventions)

3. Promotes a more sustainable healthcare system due to increased patient ownership of their health.

What are the most effective strategies to improve the use of SDM? Does SDM ultimately improve patients reported outcomes? These questions have yet no clear answer.5 However, SDM interventions such as decision aids show promise, and may improve patient knowledge and accuracy of expected outcomes related to benefit and harm of treatments.5 ,6

Shared decision-making in patellofemoral pain

Does SDM occur in the management of patellofemoral pain? A systematic review found the extent to which healthcare providers involve patients in decision-making and adjust decisions to their preferences is low across a range of health conditions and settings.7 We have no reason to believe PFP is an exception. SDM requires the treating clinician to possess knowledge of the potential benefits, harms and burdens of available treatment options,8 but it is unclear to what extent clinicians possess knowledge of the ever growing evidence base for PFP.1 The ‘Best Practice Guide’ provides one free resource to facilitate the translation of knowledge to clinicians managing PFP. The scarcity of other, possibly more patient friendly and freely available resources such as decision aids to facilitate knowledge translation and SDM may be a major barrier to implementing the current evidence base in PFP management.

The current paucity of tools to facilitate SDM and other translational resources to educate clinicians and patients on PFP and its management requires urgent attention if we are to truly improve patient outcomes in the real world. The ‘Best Practice Guide to Conservative Management of Patellofemoral Pain’ addresses some of the barriers to implementing SDM, but alone, is simply not enough.