title: A delphi exercise to identify characteristic features of gout - opinions from patients and physicians, the first stage in developing new classification criteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify a comprehensive list of features that might discriminate between gout and other rheumatic musculoskeletal conditions, to be used subsequently for a case-control study to develop and test new classification criteria for gout.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two Delphi exercises were conducted using Web-based questionnaires: one with physicians from several countries who had an interest in gout and one with patients from New Zealand who had gout. Physicians rated a list of potentially discriminating features that were identified by literature review and expert opinion, and patients rated a list of features that they generated themselves. Agreement was defined by the RAND/UCLA disagreement index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four experienced physicians and 9 patients responded to all iterations. For physicians, 71 items were identified by literature review and 15 more were suggested by physicians. The physician survey showed agreement for 26 discriminatory features and 15 as not discriminatory. The patients identified 46 features of gout, for which there was agreement on 25 items as being discriminatory and 7 items as not discriminatory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients and physicians agreed upon several key features of gout. Physicians emphasized objective findings, imaging, and patterns of symptoms, whereas patients emphasized severity, functional results, and idiographic perception of symptoms.
authors: University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors: Rebecca L
authors: RL
authors: Prowse
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Dalbeth
authors: Arthur
authors: A
authors: Kavanaugh
authors: Adewale O
authors: AO
authors: Adebajo
authors: Angelo L
authors: AL
authors: Gaffo
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Terkeltaub
authors: Brian F
authors: BF
authors: Mandell
authors: Bagus P P
authors: BP
authors: Suryana
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Goldenstein-Schainberg
authors: Cèsar
authors: C
authors: Diaz-Torne
authors: Dinesh
authors: D
authors: Khanna
authors: Frederic
authors: F
authors: Lioté
authors: Geraldine
authors: G
authors: Mccarthy
authors: Gail S
authors: GS
authors: Kerr
authors: Hisashi
authors: H
authors: Yamanaka
authors: Hein
authors: H
authors: Janssens
authors: Herbert F
authors: HF
authors: Baraf
authors: Jiunn-Horng
authors: JH
authors: Chen
authors: Janitzia
authors: J
authors: Vazquez-Mellado
authors: Leslie R
authors: LR
authors: Harrold
authors: Lisa K
authors: LK
authors: Stamp
authors: Mart A
authors: MA
authors: Van De Laar
authors: Matthijs
authors: M
authors: Janssen
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Doherty
authors: Maarten
authors: M
authors: Boers
authors: N Lawrence
authors: NL
authors: Edwards
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Gow
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Chapman
authors: Puja
authors: P
authors: Khanna
authors: Philip S
authors: PS
authors: Helliwell
authors: Rebecca
authors: R
authors: Grainger
authors: H Ralph
authors: HR
authors: Schumacher
authors: Tuhina
authors: T
authors: Neogi
authors: Tim L
authors: TL
authors: Jansen
authors: Worawit
authors: W
authors: Louthrenoo
authors: Francisca
authors: F
authors: Sivera
authors: William J
authors: WJ
authors: Taylor
authors: Rieke
authors: R
authors: Alten
mesh_terms: D003697:Delphi Technique; D005260:Female; D006073:Gout / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D010361:Patients; D010820:Physicians; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires