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ht t p://www.phcfm.org Open AccessAfrican Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine ISSN: (Online) 2071-2936, (Print) 2071-2928Page 1 of 15 Original ResearchRead online:Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online.Authors: Tumelo Modau 1 Demitri Constant i nou 2 Ané Orchard 1 Af f i liat i ons:1 Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa2 Department of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaCorresponding author:Ané Orchard,ane.orchard@wits.ac.zaDates:Received: 24 Oct. 2025Accepted: 23 Jan. 2026Published: 11 May 2026How to cite this art i cle:Modau T, Constant i nou D, Orchard A. Management of progressive joint disorders by non-physician healthcare providers in South Africa: A mapping study to inform pharmacist integrat i on. Afr J Prm Health Care Fam Med. 2026;18(1), a5281. ht t ps://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v18i1.5281Copyright:© 2026. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creat i ve Commons At t ribut i on 4.0 Internat i onal (CC BY 4.0) license (ht t ps://creat i vecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Introduct i onProgressive joint disorders (PJDs) are a group of chronic musculoskeletal conditions characterised by the gradual deterioration of joint structures because of degenerative, inf l ammatory or metabolic processes. 1 These conditions include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, chronic low back pain, spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis, among others. 2,3 Progressive joint diseases impair mobility, limit daily functioning, reduce quality of life and impose a signif i cant economic burden on healthcare systems because of prolonged treatment and hospitalisation, loss of productivity and the necessity for complex interventions such as arthroplasty. 3Early identif i cation and management of these conditions are crucial for slowing disease progression and preventing irreversible joint damage. 4 Timely intervention can improve pain control, maintain joint function and signif i cantly enhance patient outcomes. 4 However, despite the availability of effective non-pharmacological strategies, early intervention is often delayed or Background: Progressive joint disorders (PJDs), including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are leading causes of disability worldwide. Early multidisciplinary intervention is critical; however, delayed non-pharmacological management, fragmented referral pathways and limited integration of pharmacists, despite their potential role in medication management and early ‘red fl ag’ identif i cation, remain common.Aim: To identify which PJDs are managed by which healthcare providers, to inform pharmacist referral pathways and promote integrated care.Setting: Non-physician healthcare providers (HCPs) in South Africa, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, podiatrists, osteopaths, biokineticists and other complementary therapy providers.Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was administered via REDCap ® and distributed by professional bodies through email and professional association platform advertisements. Descriptive statistics and quantitative content analysis assessed condition management, referral practices and collaboration.Results: A total of 266 HCPs participated. Osteoarthritis (91.7%) and RA (84.6%) were the most managed conditions. High interprofessional collaboration was noted with physiotherapists (71.4%) and limited with pharmacists (23.3%). Most providers (76.3%) did not require referral letters. Referrals to and from other providers were common, but incoming referrals varied by profession. Internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach’s α > 0.70).Conclusion: Progressive joint disorders were predominantly managed by chiropractors, physiotherapists and biokineticists. Referral pathways were inconsistent, and pharmacist integration remained limited.Contribution: This study presents the fi rst national mapping of non-physician roles in PJD management in South Africa, providing critical insights for future development of pharmacist-inclusive referral guidelines. Keywords: allied health professionals; interprofessional collaboration; musculoskeletal; pharmacist integration; referral pathways; rehabilitative healthcare providers.Management of progressive joint disorders by non-physician healthcare providers in South Africa: A mapping study to inform pharmacist integrat i onRead online:Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online.