Questionnaire Rationale

Rationale For MDHAQ

Measures designed for research often are lengthy, not easily scored, and not designed to add to standard patient care. By contrast, measures designed for standard care are short, easily scored, and useful to monitor patient status at each visit. Some research measures have been adapted for standard care, such as the multidimensional health assessment questionnaire (MDHAQ) derived from the HAQ, which includes an index of the three RA core data set measures (physical function, pain, and global estimate), also known as routine assessment of patient index data 3 (RAPID 3). RAPID 3 can be scored in 10 sec, compared to 90 sec for a 28-joint count, and 40 sec for a standard HAQ. The MDHAQ is useful in all rheumatic diseases by saving time, documenting changes in status over long periods, and by improving rheumatology care and outcomes. The developer of the MDHAQ, Dr. Ted Pincus, strongly reccomends use of the MDHAQ over the RAPID3. RAPID3 is an index on the MDHAQ, and there are components of MDHAQ, which are advantageous to use in a clinical trial.

Sources

• Pincus, Theodore et. al. SEVERE FUNCTIONAL DECLINES, WORK DISABILITY, AND INCREASED MORTALITY IN STUDIED OVER NINE YEARS SEVENTY-FIVE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS. Arthritis and Rheumatism, Vol. 27, No. 8 (August 1984)
• Pincus, Theodore et. al. Prediction of Long-Term Mortality in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis according to Simple Questionnaire and Joint Count Measures Ann Intern Med. 1994;120:26-34.
• Callahan, Leigh F., Pincus, Theodore. Mortality in the Rheumatic Diseases. Arthritis Care and Research. Vol. 8, No. 4, December 1995
• Callahan, Leigh F. et. al. Measures of Activity and Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Depiction of Changes and Prediction of Mortality over Five Years. Arthritis Care and Research. Vol. 10, No. 6, December 1997
• Pincus, Theodore et. al. The HAQ Compared with the MDHAQ: ‘‘Keep It Simple, Stupid’’ (KISS), with Feasibility and Clinical Value asPrimary Criteria for Patient Questionnaires in Usual Clinical Care. Rheum Dis Clin N Am 35 (2009) 787–798
• Sokka, Tuulikki, Pincus, Theodore. Poor physical function, pain and limited exercise: risk factors for premature mortality in the range of smoking or hypertension, identified on a simple patient self-report questionnaire for usual care. BMJ Open 2011;1:e000070. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000070