Primary Care Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine

Practical rheumatology training for South Asian primary healthcare professionals.

Created by:

BMJ Learning

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Rs.

150000

Primary Care Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Medicine: Practical, evidence-based training for the diagnosis, early recognition, and management of common rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions in South Asian primary care settings. Learn to confidently manage patients, identify urgent rheumatologic conditions, and improve referral and long-term care outcomes through expert-led, internationally endorsed learning.

What you'll learn

After completing this course, you should be able to:

Recognise and manage common rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders in primary care
Identify early signs of inflammatory arthritis and connective tissue diseases
Confidently assess patients with joint pain, back pain, and soft tissue rheumatism
Apply evidence-based approaches for diagnosing and managing osteoporosis and gout

Recognise rheumatologic emergencies requiring urgent referral and treatment
Understand the musculoskeletal effects of conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, and vitamin D deficiency
Improve referral decisions and long-term coordination with rheumatology specialists
Deliver safer, patient-centered musculoskeletal care in everyday clinical practice

This Course Includes

Who is this course for?

This course is specially designed for medical professional including but not limited to:

GPs

Hospital doctors

Internal Medicine Physicians

Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Physicians

Specialist nurses

Foundation and Resident Doctors

Physiotherapists

Family Medicine Trainees

Physician Associates

Allied Healthcare Professionals

What you'll learn?

This course provides practical, evidence-based training in the diagnosis and management of common rheumatic and musculoskeletal disorders seen in primary care. Participants will develop confidence in recognising inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions, managing common musculoskeletal complaints, and identifying cases requiring urgent specialist referral. The curriculum is specially designed for South Asian clinical practice and focuses on improving patient-centered care through early diagnosis and effective management.

Unit 1 - Introduction to rheumatology

Module 1. Introduction to Rheumatic disorders
Module 2. Anatomy of joints and immune system
Module 3. Pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases
Module 4. Clinical spectrum of rheumatological disorders
Module 5. Approach to common rheumatic diseases

Unit 2 - Diagnosis and assessment of rheumatic diseases

Module 1. Classification / Diagnostic criteria
Module 2. History taking & Musculoskeletal examination
Module 3. How to diagnose Rheumatic disease - laboratory investigations
Module 4. Imaging in rheumatology
Module 5. Disease assessment
Module 6. Biomarkers

Unit 3 - Management of rheumatic diseases

Module 1. Rationale and safe use of NSAIDs
Module 2. Conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
Module 3. Dos and DONTs for Biologicals treated patients
Module 4. Rationale use of steroids
Module 5. Second line immune suppressants -When to refer
Module 6. An overview of Small molecules
Module 7. Vaccinations in Rheumatology
Module 8. Dietary & Lifestyle modifications relevant to rheumatic diseases
Module 9. Patient Education & Psychosocial support in Rheumatology
Module 10. Allied health sciences in Rheumatology (Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy)

Unit 4 - Approach to diagnosis and management of inflammatory arthropathies

Module 1. Clinical approach to a patient with joint syndromes
Module 2. Rheumatoid arthritis and early arthritis
Module 3. Psoriatic arthritis
Module 4. Spondyloarthritis
Module 5. Osteoarthritis
Module 6. Septic and other infective arthropathies
Module 7. Impact of co-existing infections in rheumatic diseases
Module 8. Pearls for diagnosis and management of gout and other arthropathies

Unit 5 - Approach to diagnosis and management of connective tissue diseases

Module 1. SLE and antiphospholipid syndrome
Module 2. Sjogren's syndrome
Module 3. Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)
Module 4. Myositis
Module 5. MCTD, overlaps, and undifferentiated connective tissue disease

Unit 6 - Other rheumatological conditions

Module 1. The role of vitamin D in health and disease: a brief review
Module 2. Other endocrine/metabolic syndromes with rheumatic manifestations (hypothyroidism and diabetes)
Module 3. Chronic pain syndromes
Module 4. Soft tissue rheumatism
Module 5. Evaluation of low back ache and neck pain
Module 6. Hypermobility disorders
Module 7. Vasculitis in primary care
Module 8. Rheumatological emergencies
Module 9. Outcome measures in rheumatology
Module 10. Pregnancy and lactation with rheumatic diseases
Module 11. Systemic manifestations of rheumatic diseases and rheumatic manifestations of systemic diseases
Module 12. Pregnancy and lactation with Rheumatic diseases
Module 13. Systemic manifestations of rheumatic diseases & Rheumatic manifestations of systemic diseases

Eligibility

Applicants must hold an MBBS degree as the minimum requirement for course intake.

Examination Pattern

Online evaluation based on Multiple Choice Questions.

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