Abstract
Objective To develop a quality standard, termed a Clinical Care Standard (CCS), for the diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods A Working Group with consumer representation cocreated guiding principles and quality statements for RA care through a series of workshops. The process was informed by consumer recommendations, clinical practice guidelines, and international quality criteria. A national survey of healthcare professionals (HCPs) and consumers was conducted to establish consensus. For each quality statement, respondents were asked to indicate, on a scale of 1-9, (1) if it is a priority area for improvement in RA care, and (2) their agreement with the content of the statement. For (1) and (2), respectively, scores between 1 and 4 indicated it was not a priority and disagreement; 5 and 6 indicated it was important but not critical and moderate agreement; and 7 to 9 indicated it was high priority and agreement. Criteria for inclusion were a mean score ≥ 7 for priority and a mean score ≥ 7 for content.
Results The Working Group formulated 13 quality statements and established 7 guiding principles for RA care. The survey was completed by 605 consumers and 308 HCPs. The predefined criteria for inclusion were met by 12/13 quality statements.
Conclusion The Australian Rheumatology Association has developed the first CCS for RA in Australia. This standard will serve as an important lever for HCPs and services, consumer organizations, and policy makers to improve the quality of care for adults with RA.
Plain Language Summary
The Australian Rheumatology Association has developed the first quality standard—termed a Clinical Care Standard—to improve care for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It was developed by a Working Group that included both healthcare professionals and people living with RA.
The group developed 13 statements describing key areas for high-quality RA care and identified 7 core principles to guide how care should be delivered. These were based on clinical guidelines, international quality standards, and input from people with RA. To test the importance of each statement, a national survey was conducted. It included 605 people living with RA or their carers, and 308 healthcare professionals from around the country. Participants rated each statement on whether it was a priority for improving RA care and whether they agreed with the statement's content. Ratings were on a scale from 1 to 9. Only statements that scored an average of 7 or higher in both areas were included.
In the end, 12 of the 13 draft statements met the criteria and were included in the final Standard. These statements reflect key areas where improvements in RA care are needed.
The new RA Clinical Care Standard will help guide doctors, health services, patient groups, and policy makers to deliver high-quality care for all adults living with RA in Australia.
