Research data from New York University update understanding of arthritis
2007 NOV 19 -- "The American College of Rheumatology Core Data Set for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) includes 3 measures which are found on a patient self-report questionnaire, physical function, pain, and patient estimate of global status. These measures are included in all clinical trials, but not assessed at most encounters in standard rheumatology care," researchers in the United States report. "Rheumatologists may have experience with lengthy research questionnaires in clinical trials and other clinical research, which (appropriately) are regarded as relatively cumbersome research tools and do not contribute to clinical care. A format of a questionnaire known as the multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ) has been developed for standard rheumatology care to contribute to rheumatology clinical care in daily practice. The 3 scores for physical function, pain, and global status can be ''eyeballed'' in a second or two and formally scored into a composite index known as rheumatology assessment patient index data (RAPID) in about 10 seconds," wrote T. Pincus and colleagues, New York University. The researchers concluded: "This chapter provides a brief tutorial designed to instruct rheumatologists and their staffs regarding how to use and score the MDHAQ and RAPID in standard clinical care." Pincus and colleagues published their study in Best Practice & Research in Clinical Rheumatology (A practical guide to scoring a Multi-Dimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MDHAQ) and Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data (RAPID) scores in 10-20 seconds for use in standard clinical care, without rulers, calculators, websites or computer. Best Practice & Research in Clinical Rheumatology, 2007;21(4):755-787). For additional information, contact T. Pincus, New York University, Hospital Joint Diseases, 301 E 17 St., New York City, NY 10003, USA. Publisher contact information for the journal Best Practice & Research in Clinical Rheumatology is: Bailliere Tindall, 24-28 Oval Rd., London NW1 7DX, England. Keywords: United States, New York, Arthritis, New York University. This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
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