title: OMERACT: an international initiative to improve outcome measurement in rheumatology.
abstract: OMERACT is the acronym for an international, informally organized network aimed at improving outcome measurement in rheumatology. Chaired by an executive committee it organizes consensus conferences in a 2-yearly cycle that circles the globe since 2002. Data driven recommendations are prepared and updated by expert working groups. Recommendations include core sets of measures for most of the major rheumatologic conditions. Since 2002 patients have been actively engaged in the process. OMERACT 8 will take place in Malta, May 2006 (www.omeract.org).
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, PK 6Z 181, VU University Medical Center, Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boers
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Strand
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tugwell
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome