Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ)

The Musculoskeletal Health Questionnaire (MSK-HQ) is a short questionnaire designed to help patients with musculoskeletal conditions (for example, back or knee pain) to report their symptoms.

We encourage our patients to complete the MSK-HQ at their first (initial) and last appointment, to help our team understand:

  • how we may have improved their symptoms
  • areas we can improve on.

Access more information about the questionnaire by visiting the Versus Arthritis website (opens in new window) >.

What is the MSK-HQ?

The questionnaire has 14 questions, which will provide you with a score ranging from 0-56. There is also a question which will ask you to indicate, in the past week, how many days have you engaged in physical activity that has raised your heart rate for 30 minutes or more (0 to 7 days).

Before COVID-19, the Derby Outpatient Musculoskeletal Therapy department collected MSK-HQ scores via paper at our patients' first and last appointment. In 2019, the results of the questionnaires showed that we helped our patients, on average, improve their score by 16 points and their physical activity level by 3 days per week.

Like many departments, we now offer face-to-face and virtual therapy and so completion of a paper questionnaire is not always possible. In response to this change, we have worked with a team to deliver the questionnaire online via a system called Patient Know Best (PKB).

Other departments in the hospital use the Patient Know Best system, so you may already have a login. If you do, please continue to follow the instructions below.

If you need to register, please visit Patients Know Best website (opens in new window) > 

For further guidance on how to register, please download the Patient Know Best manual (opens in new window) >

How to complete the questionnaire

To complete the MSK-HQ, please read the following information carefully

1. Login to Patient Know Best


2. Select the ‘start consultation’ button at the top of the page.

MSK HQ


3. Select the questionnaire

  • MUSCULOSKELETAL HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE (MSK-HQ) - Initial appointment

OR

  • MUSCULOSKELETAL HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE (MSK-HQ) - Final appointment

Please check that you have selected the correct questionnaire title for your initial (first) or last appointment.
 

4. Select an answer for each questionnaire as instructed.
 

5. Click ‘submit’ at the bottom of the page.


Once successfully submitted, you will be able to view your completed consultation by accessing the Events & Messages page on your Patient Know Best portal. For any further information or assistance please view the Patient Know Best user manual (opens in new window) > or contact the Patient Know Best support team on 01332 783474.

When you arrive in the department for your initial appointment, you may be asked by a member of our team if you have completed the MSK-HQ. We will display QR codes in the department, so you can complete the questionnaire during your visit if you wish. You may also be asked to complete the questionnaire at your last appointment in the department.

It is your choice whether you complete the questionnaire or not, and your care in the department will not be affected by your choice.

If you have any further questions about the questionnaire, please contact our Derby team by calling 01332 254631.