OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between self-rating of physical and mental health and changes in prescription therapy in the course of the office visit in the treatment of patients with musculoskeletal disorders. METHODS: Patients visiting one of the two outpatient clinics in Tucson, Arizona with arthritic symptoms as their chief complaint were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire. In addition to demographics and diagnoses information, data was collected on medication profile, scores on a functional status instrument (Health Assessment Questionnaire), and quality of life instruments (Feeling Thermometer; 12-item Short Form Health Survey). The data were collected between March and May 1998. RESULTS: Among 772 patients, 112 (14.5%) received additional medication following the visit, 29 (3.8%) had a medication discontinued, and 51 (6.6%) experienced both an addition and a discontinuation of medication. According to univariate statistics, patients who received additional medication reported more functional limitation (p<0.05) and poorer overall health (SF-12 Physical, p<0.001; SF-12 Mental, p<0.005; FT, p<0.05), compared to patients whose therapy remained unchanged. After adjusting for age, gender, comorbid condition, specific diagnosis and pre-visit medication use, the association between quality of life measurements and change in therapy was no longer significant. CONCLUSION: Patients with musculoskeletal disorders who perceive their mental and physical health as poor and report greater levels of functional limitations are more likely to receive an additional medication during a medical encounter. Since therapy change is also a function of specific patient diagnosis, future analyses should evaluate self-rating health scores and therapy change within patients with specific diagnosis.