Rheumatoid Arthritis: Quest EM

Kirwan JR, Hewlett SE, Heiberg T, Hughes RA, Carr M, Hehir M, Kvien TK, Minnock P, Newman SP, Quest EM, Taal E, Wale J. · University of Bristol Academic Rheumatology Unit, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK. · J Rheumatol. · Pubmed #16265712 No free full text.

Abstract: The Patient Perspective Workshop at OMERACT 7 addressed the question of assessing the outcomes of intervention in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from the perspective of those who experience the disease. A particular emphasis at this workshop was placed on fatigue, but other areas included well-being, real-time assessment, patient priorities, and needs in early and late disease. Through a series of overview presentations, discussion groups, and plenary sessions, workshop participants (who included 19 patients) clarified what is known and what are the outstanding issues for future research. The importance of further work on clarifying the validity of fatigue measurements in RA has been confirmed, and with at least one suitable instrument available there will be strong pressure to include fatigue in a redefined core set of outcome measures in RA. In the other 4 areas covered there are important issues that can be addressed by enquiry and experiment and that together provide a challenging research agenda. At the final plenary session the OMERACT conference endorsed, by a large majority, the proposal that fatigue may warrant consideration for inclusion in the OMERACT core set for RA.

Kirwan JR, Ahlmén M, de Wit M, Heiberg T, Hehir M, Hewlett S, Katz PP, Minnock P, Quest EM, Richards P. · University of Bristol, Academic Rheumatology Unit, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK. · J Rheumatol. · Pubmed #16265711 No free full text.

Abstract: The first OMERACT Patient Perspective Workshop took place at OMERACT 6 in 2002. Through a series of meetings and discussion sessions a research agenda emerged and this report outlines progress made on this agenda. Work on identifying novel outcomes, instruments, and methods has shown similarities across European countries in the importance patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) attach to specific outcomes, in particular fatigue. Validation of an appropriate instrument to measure fatigue in patients with RA is currently being investigated. Frequent or repeated real-time assessment of symptoms such as pain and fatigue is becoming possible using electronic systems. An OMERACT Patient Panel has been established, and has produced a glossary for patients involved in supporting clinical research. In some centers, efforts are being made to provide Patient Research Partners with knowledge and skills that will enhance their contribution, and some of these approaches will be incorporated into OMERACT 7. The research agenda that was developed during the first Patient Perspective Workshop has stimulated new work in several areas. In addition, international attention has been drawn to the need to make sure that the patient's perspective is not lost among the technical expertise of rheumatology.