Skip to main content

Table 1 Delphi panel acceptance of questions for an early inflammatory arthritis detection tool

From: Development of a self-administered early inflammatory arthritis detection tool

Elements and Questions

Delphi Round*

EIA Tool (X)

 

1

(n = 60)

2

(n = 59)

3

(n = 169)

 

Demographics

    

1. In which month and year were you born?

66.7

-

-

-†

2. What is your gender, male or female?

75.0

-

54.4

-†

3. If female, have you been pregnant or given birth within the last year?

63.3

-

-

-

4. Have you smoked or have you been exposed to smoke on a regular basis in your life?‡

55.0

54.2

26.6

-

5. Over the past year, have you had more than 10 lbs (5 kg) weight loss without trying?

-

57.6

-

-

Articular Pain

    

6. Do you have pain in your joints?

91.7

-

91.1

X

7. Do you have pain in your wrists and hands?

95.0

-

92.3

X

8. Do you have pain in the ball of your foot?

71.7

-

65.7

-

9. Do you have pain in your neck, your back, your buttocks or the muscles in your legs?

63.3

-

-

-

Articular Swelling

    

10. Are your hands or wrists swollen?

98.3

-

91.1

X

11. Are your rings still fitting?‡

56.7

44.1

-

-

12. Do you have trouble with your shoes fitting?

43.3

20.3

-

-

Articular Stiffness

    

13. Do you have trouble making a fist?

93.3

-

85.2

X

14. Are your joints stiff in the morning?

96.7

-

95.3

X

15. Do you have a feeling of back stiffness in the morning?‡

61.7

74.6

78.1

-

16. From the time you wake in the morning, how many minutes does it take for your joints to move more freely, less than 30 minutes or more than 30 minutes?‡

95.0

-

91.7

X

Distribution of Joint Involvement

    

17. At any time have your lower limbs been affected, such as your groin knees, ankles, or feet?

63.3

-

-

-

18. Are the same joints involved on both sides of your body?

-

88.1

87.6

X

Characterization of symptom onset

    

19. For how long have you had these symptoms, less than 1 year or more than 1 year?‡

86.7

-

79.3§

-**

20. Did your bone and joint problem come on suddenly?‡

-

76.3

80.5

-**

Nodules

    

21. Have you developed any new lumps or bumps on your arms or legs?

66.7

-

-

-

Function

    

22. Have important activities in your life been affected because of bone or joint problems, such as having difficulty with personal care or having to make a change regarding leisure or work activities?

80.0

-

87.6

X

Fatigue

    

23. Do you find that you are getting tired earlier in the day than you used to?

68.3

-

-

-

Laboratory Test and Diagnostic Imaging History

    

24. Have you had a blood test for rheumatoid arthritis?

75.0

-

63.3

-

25. Have you had x-rays of your hands or wrists?

68.3

-

-

-

Diagnostic History

    

26. Have you ever been told that you have rheumatoid arthritis?

88.3

-

72.8§

X

27. Have you seen an arthritis specialist or rheumatologist in the past year?

80.0

-

71.6

-

28. Have you been diagnosed with a rash called psoriasis?

90.0

-

81.7

X

29. Have you had a recent viral or other infection or illness?‡

-

76.3

76.9

-

Family History

    

30. Does anyone in your family have rheumatoid arthritis?

91.7

-

93.5

X

31. Does anyone in your family have a rash called psoriasis?

78.3

-

79.9

-

Treatment History

    

32. Have you used anti-inflammatory drugs to manage your arthritis?

80.0

-

79.3

-

33. Have you used disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) to manage your arthritis?

71.7

-

65.7

-

34. Have you used non-pharmacological (non-drug) methods to manage your arthritis?

61.7

54.2

-

-

35. Do you take pills on a daily basis to make your pain or stiffness feel better?

-

79.7

72.8

-

  1. *In rounds 1 and 2, a cut-off of <70% was used to eliminate questions from the EIA detection tool. In round 3, a cut-off of <80% was used.
  2. †Age and gender are captured as demographic assessments on the EIA detection tool.
  3. ‡Phrasing of question changed in round two or three.
  4. §85.4% Acceptance by respondents involved in all three rounds of the Delphi panel (secondary analysis population).
  5. **Symptom duration items were modified into eligibility criteria for tool administration. Persons with musculoskeletal complaints for a duration of at least six weeks but no more than 52 weeks are eligible to self-administer the tool.