title: Symptoms: hard facts on soft data.
abstract: Symptoms form an essential part of the description of rheumatic diseases. The process of collecting information on symptoms--pain, stiffness, and discomfort--is subtle and influenced by observer and examine through various linguistic, cultural, and situational circumstances. Symptom descriptions are lay-dependent, but should be placed within a scientific framework.
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires