The arthritis impact measurement scales: an anglicized version to assess the outcome of British patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales (AIMS) is an American questionnaire designed to measure the health status of patients with arthritis. Its suitability for use with British patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been tested. A study on 30 patients high-lighted the need to anglicize the terminology and spelling. A further 30 patients found the modified questionnaire easier to complete than the original. The concurrent validity of this modified AIMS was then tested on 59 patients by comparison with two widely accepted standards. Physical function and pain scales were tested against the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Because the HAQ has no psychological component, psychological status was compared with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). Results showed a good correlation between the scales and it is concluded that the modified version of the AIMS may be used with confidence in British patients with RA.