Patient views of disease remission assessment, from a North American online discussion board.
| How does the patient know that the disease is inactive? | What is the doctor’s role in determining whether disease is inactive? |
|---|---|
| No pain (less pain, or tolerable pain) | Joint examination (check for swelling, range of motion, warmth, redness) |
| Lack of stiffness (especially in morning) | Blood tests |
| No swelling | Listen to patient report (ask about pain, emotions/how happy they look) |
| Can participate in activities | Vision examination (uveitis screen) |
| Better sleep | Physical examination: e.g., range of spine, gait |
| More energy | Imaging (magnetic resonance imaging) |
| More capable/independent, everything is easier |