An evidence-based medical visit for patients with rheumatoid arthritis based on standard, quantitative scientific data from a patient MDHAQ and physician report.

Abstract

An evidence-based visit is described based on quantitative, standard scientific data on two simple forms for a patient and a physician. The focus is rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the principles may be applied to most rheumatic and chronic diseases. A quantitative patient history is recorded on a selfreport multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ), which includes scales for physical function, pain, patient global estimate, psychological distress, change in status, exercise status, morning stiffness, fatigue, and a template to score RAPID3 (routine assessment of patient index data 3). RAPID3, an index of only patient self-report measures, distinguishes active from control treatments in clinical trials at similar levels to a disease activity score (DAS28) and clinical disease activity index (CDAI) but is calculated in 5 seconds, compared to almost 2 minutes for DAS28 or CDAI. The MDHAQ also includes traditional "medical" matters-a self-report joint count, review of systems, recent medical history, medications, demographic data, and consents for future monitoring by mail and sharing data with research colleagues; these queries enhance acceptance by patients and save time for doctors. Patient questionnaire physical function scores-not radiographs or laboratory tests-are the most significant prognostic markers for long-term work disability and premature death in RA. The physician completes a "doctor evaluation" (DOCEVAL) form, which includes four visual analog scales for overall status, inflammation, damage, and "neither" (usually fibromyalgia), reflecting quantitatively the expertise of a rheumatologist to classify the etiology of pain and distress into one of these three broad categories in formulating a treatment plan. Quantitative data from patients and doctors on an evidence-based visit can advance rheumatology clinical care and clinical science.