Core Clinical Data Set Supports High-quality Care for RA Patients in Canada (CAN-RACCD)

Variability in clinical data collection has been identified as a barrier to quality measurement since it creates challenges in terms of maintenance of complete patient records and monitoring the provision of care. The AAC partnered with the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) and individual investigators to develop a Canadian Rheumatoid Arthritis Core Clinical Dataset (CAN-RACCD) to encourage best practices and to facilitate future quality measurement efforts. The CAN-RACCD was developed through a three-phase program that included an environmental scan to identify a candidate set of core data elements, stakeholder meetings to prioritize elements for inclusion, and a modified-Delphi process to finalize the core clinical dataset. Broad input was gained from 47 rheumatologists, people living with arthritis, and allied health providers from across Canada. The CAN-RACCD includes 49 individual data elements across nine categories, such as:

1) demographic

2) dates

3) clinical data

4) disease activity

5) comorbidities

6) smoking status

7) patient-reported outcomes

8) medications

9) laboratory and radiographic data

This is an important first step in standardizing measurement that will help improve the routine quality of care of people living with rheumatoid arthritis.

Please click here for an open access manuscript by Barber C et al. Development of a Canadian Core Clinical Dataset to Support High-quality Care for Canadian Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. (J Rheumatol. 2017 Dec;44(12):1813-1822. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.170421. Epub 2017 Oct 1.)

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