Conclusion Based on this literature review , the disease-specificHAQ and the generic SF-36 can currently be most confidently recommended to measure PF in RA for most research purpose s. The HAQ , however , was frequently associated with considerable ceiling effects while the SF-36 has limited content coverage .
Background The aim of this study was to systematic ally review the content validity and measurement properties of all physical function ( PF ) scales which are currently vali date d for use with patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) .
Clinical improvement as reflected in measures of function and health-related quality of life following treatment with leflunomide compared with methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: sensitivity and relative efficiency to detect a treatment effect in a twelve-month, placebo-controlled t
OBJECTIVE To examine correlations between clinical improvement as defined by the American College of Rheumatology ( ACR ) responder analysis and clinical improvement as determined by 4 function and /or health-related quality of life measures , and to estimate the sensitivity and relative efficiency of these measures compared with changes in the tender joint count in patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) . METHODS A 52-week , multicenter , double-blind controlled trial was conducted to compare treatment with leflunomide ( n = 182 ) , methotrexate ( n = 180 ) , or placebo ( n = 118 ) in patients with active RA .  ACR response rates and improvement in scores on the  Health Assessment Question naire ( HAQ ) , Problem Elicitation Technique ( PET ) , and Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form 36 ( SF-36 ) were compared in 438 of the patients . RESULTS In comparing leflunomide with placebo , the patient global assessment , HAQ disability index , and SF-36 bodily pain scale were most responsive to treatment group differences . The modified HAQ ( M-HAQ ) , PET Top 5 , SF-36 physical component score , physician global assessment , pain intensity scale , and SF-36 physical functioning scale were more responsive to treatment group differences than was the tender joint count . In comparing methotrexate with placebo , the patient and physician global assessment s were most responsive . These 2 measures , as well as the pain intensity scale and the C-reactive protein level , were more responsive to treatment group differences than was the tender joint count , while the SF-36 mental health component score was least responsive . A close correlation between changes in the M-HAQ and HAQ scores indicated that the M-HAQ was similarly responsive to change over time . Improvements in the PET , SF-36 physical component score , bodily pain , and physical functioning scales correlated with the ACR responder status . CONCLUSION Both disease-specific and generic measures of function and health-related quality of life detect improvements in RA patients . Using both types of measures for evaluating therapies will identify discernible changes that are important to patients , and will facilitate comparisons across different disease states
Conclusion Based on this literature review , the disease-specificHAQ and the generic SF-36 can currently be most confidently recommended to measure PF in RA for most research purpose s. The HAQ , however , was frequently associated with considerable ceiling effects while the SF-36 has limited content coverage .
Background The aim of this study was to systematic ally review the content validity and measurement properties of all physical function ( PF ) scales which are currently vali date d for use with patients with rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) .