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 ) .
A comparison of health-related quality-of-life measures for rheumatoid arthritis research. The Auranofin Cooperating Group.
Twenty-eight instruments measuring pain , clinical , functional , and global characteristics  were administered to 303 patients in a six-month r and omized clinical trial of auranofin and placebo in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis . The instruments were compared with respect to their responsiveness in detecting a treatment effect , the time involved in administering the instrument , the need for the presence of an interviewer , and ease of administration . The instruments ' ability to detect a treatment effect was the deciding characteristic in the clinical , pain , and global categories in choosing the preferred instrument . The counts of tender and swollen joints were found to be the most responsive clinical measures , the 10-cm pain line was the most responsive and the fastest to administer of the pain instruments , and the categorical self- assessment of arthritis was the most responsive global measure . In the functional ability category , the Health Assessment Question naire ( HAQ ) , the Keitel Functional Assessment , and the Quality of Well-Being ( QWB ) Question naire were equally responsive . The HAQ was the shortest and the only self-administered question naire . The QWB has had the most extensive validation work but was a complex instrument requiring intensive interviewer training . The Keitel was the most time-consuming instrument , but had the advantage of high interobserver agreement . The design of future trials can be guided by the information obtained in this study on their relative efficiencies and ease of use
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 ) .