The rapid assessment of disease activity in rheumatology (radar) questionnaire. Validity and sensitivity to change of a patient self-report measure of joint count and clinical status

Arthritis Rheum. 1992 Feb;35(2):156-62. doi: 10.1002/art.1780350206.

Abstract

Objective: This study documents the measurement properties of a brief, self-administered questionnaire of disease signs and symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: The Rapid Assessment of Disease Activity in Rheumatology (RADAR) questionnaire assesses joint pain/tenderness and clinical status. One hundred ninety-three pairs of RADAR forms were completed by 45 subjects and their assigned clinician evaluators.

Results: Subject-clinician agreement (intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC]) for joint pain/tenderness and clinical status ranged from 0.52 to 0.87 (P = 0.0001), with 83% greater than or equal to 0.65. The ICC for change in joint scores over 6 months was 0.83 (P = 0.0001).

Conclusion: The 2-page RADAR questionnaire produces valid estimates of joint count and clinical status that are sensitive to change.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain / physiopathology*
  • Physical Examination
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Severity of Illness Index*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*