Perceptions of Filipino Physicians on Screening for Musculoskeletal Disorders among Asymptomatic, Apparently Healthy Children and Adults: A Cross-sectional Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47895/amp.v60i15.13689Keywords:
Abstract
Background and Objective. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) cause disability and loss of productivity with enormous societal impact. The Philippine clinical practice guideline (CPG) on screening for MSDs was published in 2023 to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of MSDs. To obtain feedback on its dissemination and implementation, this study aimed to examine the perceptions of Filipino physicians on screening for MSDs among asymptomatic, apparently healthy children and adults.
Methods. An online survey was conducted from March to June 2025. It was sent to a convenience sample of physicians practicing medicine in the Philippines who gave informed consent. Ethical approval was sought, and confidentiality and data privacy of the respondents were ensured. Descriptive statistics were utilized to summarize the data.
Results. The survey participants (n = 353) are predominantly females (60.9%), with a median age of 41 years. Most respondents have mixed government-private practice in secondary and tertiary care and belong to one medical society. The internal medicine specialists comprise the largest group of respondents (38.2%). A low proportion of the respondents (30.6%) are aware of the 2023 Philippine CPG on Screening for MSDs, and only about half have read and used the CPG. Likewise, a low proportion of respondents are aware (21.2%) and have used the website phex.ph to screen MSDs (7.4%) and other diseases (14.4%). The respondents rated the importance of screening from 7 to 10 (10 as “most important”) in children and adults. Among apparently healthy children, 41.8% would screen for any MSD and 56.3% for physical inactivity, both congruent with weak recommendations for those disorders, yet 65.5% would screen for scoliosis (discordant with the weak recommendation against screening). Among apparently healthy adults, >60% would screen for physical inactivity and osteoporosis, around 50.0% for fall risk, congruent with a strong recommendation for screening. Only 39.1% would screen for sarcopenia despite strong recommendations for screening. Diseases with weak recommendations to screen for, such as any MSD and work-related MSD, would be screened by 53.7% and 62.2% of respondents. The identified barriers to screening were the cost and the lack of knowledge about the CPG. Most respondents considered that training, online screening guides, and government subsidies for screening would facilitate screening for MSDs.
Conclusion. The respondents recognize the importance of screening for MSDs. However, awareness of the screening guidelines is low. There is a need for greater awareness of what diseases to screen for among apparently healthy children and adults. Dissemination and implementation of the Philippine CPG on MSD screening need to be improved. The influence of knowledge, resources, and systemic facilitators or barriers needs to be recognized. Enhancing knowledge through targeted education and more robust policy support could promote early detection and management of MSDs in the Filipino population.