Osteoarthritis — SCE Rheumatology MCQ
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Correct answer: B — Do not offer glucosamine
Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · A = shown as B · B = shown as C · E = shown as D · D = shown as E
The correct answer is A. NICE NG226 states that glucosamine should not be offered to manage osteoarthritis. If a patient asks about it, clinicians should explain that there is no strong evidence of benefit. This recommendation is not restricted by the joint affected, prior topical NSAID use, formulation, or whether glucosamine is combined with chondroitin; therefore options B–E are incorrect. Management should instead prioritise information and support, tailored therapeutic exercise, and weight management when appropriate, with pharmacological treatment used only when needed to support non-pharmacological management. The original item was narrowed to glucosamine because current NICE NG226 explicitly recommends against glucosamine but does not provide an equivalent explicit recommendation on chondroitin.
Reference: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Osteoarthritis in over 16s: diagnosis and management (NG226), recommendations 1.4.6–1.4.7. 2022. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226/chapter/recommendations