How to collect an MDHAQ to provide rheumatology vital signs (function, pain, global status, and RAPID3 scores) in the infrastructure of rheumatology care, including some misconceptions regarding the MDHAQ.

Patient history data are prominent in rheumatology patient management and should be captured at each visit as standard, quantitative, scientific data by a self-report questionnaire. Patient questionnaire data on a multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ) provide scores for physical function, pain, global estimate of status, and routine assessment of patient index data (RAPID3), which may be regarded as rheumatology vital signs. Patient questionnaires designed for usual clinical care, such as the MDHAQ, save time and improve the quality and documentation of the visit for the patient and the physician.