A Standardized Physical Examination Method for Joints to Determine Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity Using the Modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method
Yimy F Medina,1,2,* Alvaro J Ruiz,1,* Martin A Rondon1 1PhD Program in Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia; 2Rheumatology Unit, Internal Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Co...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/a-standardized-physical-examination-method-for-joints-to-determine-rhe-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JMDH |
| _version_ | 1827950901446311936 |
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| author | Medina YF Ruiz AJ Rondon MA |
| author_facet | Medina YF Ruiz AJ Rondon MA |
| author_sort | Medina YF |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Yimy F Medina,1,2,* Alvaro J Ruiz,1,* Martin A Rondon1 1PhD Program in Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia; 2Rheumatology Unit, Internal Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yimy F Medina, Email yimy.medina@gmail.comIntroduction: Rheumatoid arthritis activity is evaluated based on a physical examination of each of the joints. However, the joint examination is not standardized, and the techniques are variable and difficult to reproduce due to disagreements among examiners.Objective: To recommend standardized joint examination techniques based on the modified RAND-UCLA appropriateness method.Methods: A review of the literature was conducted to determine the items to be included in the joint examination; subsequently, a consensus of rheumatologists was achieved with the modified RAND-UCLA methodology to issue the recommendations. The diagnosis of RA and differential diagnoses were excluded.Results: Two hundred fifteen rheumatologists were invited to participate. Five were included in the core group and 26 in the group of clinical experts. Clinical experience ranged between 2 and 25 years (mean 15.6 years; standard deviation 6.3 years). Most rheumatologists participated in all rounds (Round 1: 100%, Round 2: 61%, and Round 3: 61%). Of the 45 statements in the questionnaire assessing the examination techniques, 28 (62%) were retained. In addition, 6 other statements were included during the face-to-face meeting for a total of 34 final statements.Conclusion: Physical examination techniques for joints that determine RA activity are heterogeneous and differ markedly in terms of several characteristics. A list of recommendations is proposed as a guide to improve and standardize the method for the physical examination of the joints. This standardization will improve the diagnosis and results for patients with RA and help health caregivers provide better treatment.Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, physical examination, joints, diagnosis, disease activity, consensus |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:33:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c3790e9957c74fae8f848ad315121631 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1178-2390 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:33:18Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-c3790e9957c74fae8f848ad3151216312023-05-09T18:57:55ZengDove Medical PressJournal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare1178-23902023-05-01Volume 161287129983561A Standardized Physical Examination Method for Joints to Determine Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity Using the Modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness MethodMedina YFRuiz AJRondon MAYimy F Medina,1,2,* Alvaro J Ruiz,1,* Martin A Rondon1 1PhD Program in Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia; 2Rheumatology Unit, Internal Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yimy F Medina, Email yimy.medina@gmail.comIntroduction: Rheumatoid arthritis activity is evaluated based on a physical examination of each of the joints. However, the joint examination is not standardized, and the techniques are variable and difficult to reproduce due to disagreements among examiners.Objective: To recommend standardized joint examination techniques based on the modified RAND-UCLA appropriateness method.Methods: A review of the literature was conducted to determine the items to be included in the joint examination; subsequently, a consensus of rheumatologists was achieved with the modified RAND-UCLA methodology to issue the recommendations. The diagnosis of RA and differential diagnoses were excluded.Results: Two hundred fifteen rheumatologists were invited to participate. Five were included in the core group and 26 in the group of clinical experts. Clinical experience ranged between 2 and 25 years (mean 15.6 years; standard deviation 6.3 years). Most rheumatologists participated in all rounds (Round 1: 100%, Round 2: 61%, and Round 3: 61%). Of the 45 statements in the questionnaire assessing the examination techniques, 28 (62%) were retained. In addition, 6 other statements were included during the face-to-face meeting for a total of 34 final statements.Conclusion: Physical examination techniques for joints that determine RA activity are heterogeneous and differ markedly in terms of several characteristics. A list of recommendations is proposed as a guide to improve and standardize the method for the physical examination of the joints. This standardization will improve the diagnosis and results for patients with RA and help health caregivers provide better treatment.Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, physical examination, joints, diagnosis, disease activity, consensushttps://www.dovepress.com/a-standardized-physical-examination-method-for-joints-to-determine-rhe-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JMDHrheumatoid arthritisphysical examinationjointsdiagnosisdisease activity5 consensus. |
| spellingShingle | Medina YF Ruiz AJ Rondon MA A Standardized Physical Examination Method for Joints to Determine Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity Using the Modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare rheumatoid arthritis physical examination joints diagnosis disease activity5 consensus. |
| title | A Standardized Physical Examination Method for Joints to Determine Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity Using the Modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method |
| title_full | A Standardized Physical Examination Method for Joints to Determine Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity Using the Modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method |
| title_fullStr | A Standardized Physical Examination Method for Joints to Determine Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity Using the Modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Standardized Physical Examination Method for Joints to Determine Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity Using the Modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method |
| title_short | A Standardized Physical Examination Method for Joints to Determine Rheumatoid Arthritis Activity Using the Modified RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method |
| title_sort | standardized physical examination method for joints to determine rheumatoid arthritis activity using the modified rand ucla appropriateness method |
| topic | rheumatoid arthritis physical examination joints diagnosis disease activity5 consensus. |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/a-standardized-physical-examination-method-for-joints-to-determine-rhe-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JMDH |
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