title: An electronic method for measuring joint tenderness in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the precision of a new electronic method for measuring joint tenderness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Joint tenderness was measured in 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, using an electronic dolorimeter. The results were compared with joint tenderness counts, which were made according to the American Rheumatism Association (ARA) methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intra-observer variability using the electronic method was significantly decreased compared with the conventional ARA joint tenderness counts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The electronic method is more efficient for use in clinical trials than is the conventional ARA joint tenderness count.
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Society, British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zielinski
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Klinkhoff
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chalmers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schulzer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Della Cioppa
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004582:Electronics, Medical / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*