Clinical Trials
The final subject discussed in the lecture was applying outcome measures to clinical trials and clinical practice. Ideally, it’s helpful when outcome measures can be used for both purposes, but this can be challenging; measures are time consuming with respect to data collection and calculation. Dr. Coates said it’s possible to modify components of the data collection process to make such measures more time efficient. This approach can be accomplished by using shorter questionnaires, having patients enter data while in the waiting room—including via electronic tablets that directly transmit this information into the medical chart—and having formulas to calculate the outcome measure already integrated into the electronic health record system.
Jason Liebowitz, MD, completed his fellowship in rheumatology at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, where he also earned his medical degree. He is currently in practice with Skylands Medical Group, N.J.
References
- Tillett W, Dures E, Hewlett S, et al. A multicenter nominal group study to rank outcomes important to patients, and their representation in existing composite outcome measures for psoriatic arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2017 Oct;44(10):1445–1452.
- Tillett W, FitzGerald O, Coates LC, et al. Composite measures for clinical trials in psoriatic arthritis: Testing pain and fatigue modifications in a U.K. multicenter study. J Rheumatol Suppl. 2021 Jun;97:39–44.
