title: Nonpharmacologic interventions need outcomes for evaluating complex interventions in rheumatic diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nonpharmacologic interventions are themselves complex and are often combined with drugs and other interventions in the treatment of rheumatic diseases. Therefore, overall strategies for treatment are complex interventions. These should be evaluated regarding their processes and outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CARE network, an international organization of health professionals (physicians and nonphysicians) and patients conducted a survey in 2008 to identify core outcomes in the ICF perspective, completed with a second survey (2009-2010) with patients in routine practice. These surveys have provided new information about domains to investigate as a basis for evaluating complex interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) participants in this Special Interest Group agreed that current outcomes used in pharmacological research are not sufficient if the nonpharmacologic independent or combined contributions are to be assessed; other domains need to be addressed. This is an area of interest for further development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recommendations are proposed to develop research in the area of outcome for evaluation of complex interventions in rheumatic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Nancy-University, Nancy, France. francis.guillemin@medecine.uhp-nancy.fr
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guillemin
authors.forename: Maura D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Iversen
authors.forename: Anne-Christine
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Rat
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: Ingemar F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Petersson
mesh_terms: D003625:Data Collection; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome