OBJECTIVE: To evaluate agreement between a rheumatologist visit and a telephone interview by a patient organization member, regarding the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and the classification criteria for these two conditions. METHOD: Patients underwent a standardized interview and physical examination by hospital-based rheumatologists, who diagnosed RA in 230 cases, SpA in 175, and other conditions (controls) in 195. Members of patient organizations then used a standardized questionnaire to interview the patients by telephone about their diagnosis and about 1987 ACR classification criteria for RA and the ESSG criteria for SpA. RESULTS: Agreement between the two sources of data was poor for the classification criteria but satisfactory for the diagnosis (kappa, 0.84 (0.81-0.87) for RA and 0.78 (0.75-0.81) for SpA). CONCLUSION: Standardized telephone interviews conducted by patient organization members accurately identify the diagnosis made by rheumatologists based on a physical examination and medical record review, whereas agreement is poor regarding classification criteria for RA and SpA.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate agreement between a rheumatologist visit and a telephone interview by a patient organization member, regarding the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and the classification criteria for these two conditions. METHOD:Patients underwent a standardized interview and physical examination by hospital-based rheumatologists, who diagnosed RA in 230 cases, SpA in 175, and other conditions (controls) in 195. Members of patient organizations then used a standardized questionnaire to interview the patients by telephone about their diagnosis and about 1987 ACR classification criteria for RA and the ESSG criteria for SpA. RESULTS: Agreement between the two sources of data was poor for the classification criteria but satisfactory for the diagnosis (kappa, 0.84 (0.81-0.87) for RA and 0.78 (0.75-0.81) for SpA). CONCLUSION: Standardized telephone interviews conducted by patient organization members accurately identify the diagnosis made by rheumatologists based on a physical examination and medical record review, whereas agreement is poor regarding classification criteria for RA and SpA.
Authors: A Saraux; F Guillemin; P Guggenbuhl; C H Roux; P Fardellone; E Le Bihan; A Cantagrel; I Chary-Valckenaere; L Euller-Ziegler; R-M Flipo; R Juvin; J-M Behier; B Fautrel; C Masson; J Coste Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2005-04-07 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: Kevin D Deane; Christopher C Striebich; Barbara L Goldstein; Lezlie A Derber; Mark C Parish; Marie L Feser; Elaine M Hamburger; Stacey Brake; Cindy Belz; James Goddard; Jill M Norris; Elizabeth W Karlson; V Michael Holers Journal: Arthritis Rheum Date: 2009-12-15