Operationalizing the GRADE-equity criterion to inform guideline recommendations: application to a medical cannabis guideline.

OBJECTIVES: Incorporating health equity considerations into guideline development often requires information beyond that gathered through traditional evidence synthesis methodology. This article outlines an operationalization plan for the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE)-equity criterion to gather and assess evidence from primary studies within systematic reviews, enhancing guideline recommendations to promote equity. We demonstrate its use in a clinical guideline on medical cannabis for chronic pain. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We reviewed GRADE guidance and resources recommended by team members regarding the use of evidence for equity considerations, drafted an operationalization plan, and iteratively refined it through team discussion and feedback and piloted it on a medicinal cannabis guideline. RESULTS: We propose a seven-step approach: 1) identify disadvantaged populations, 2) examine available data for specific populations, 3) evaluate population baseline risk for primary outcomes, 4) assess representation of these populations in primary studies, 5) appraise analyses, 6) note barriers to implementation of effective interventions for these populations, and 7) suggest supportive strategies to facilitate implementation of effective interventions. CONCLUSION: Our approach assists guideline developers in recognizing equity considerations, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Its application across various guideline topics can verify its feasibility and necessary adjustments.

Investigating Associations Between Access to Rheumatology Care, Treatment, Continuous Care, and Healthcare Utilization and Costs Among Older Individuals With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between rheumatologist access, early treatment, and ongoing care of older-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthcare utilization and costs following diagnosis. METHODS: We analyzed data from a population-based inception cohort of individuals aged > 65 years with RA in Ontario, Canada, diagnosed between 2002 and 2014 with follow-up to 2019. We assessed 4 performance measures in the first 4 years following diagnosis, including access to rheumatology care, yearly follow-up, timely treatment, and ongoing treatment with a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug. We examined annual healthcare utilization, mean direct healthcare costs, and whether the performance measures were associated with costs in year 5. RESULTS: A total of 13,293 individuals met inclusion criteria. The mean age was 73.7 (SD 5.7) years and 68% were female. Total mean direct healthcare cost per individual increased annually and was CAD $13,929 in year 5. All 4 performance measures were met for 35% of individuals. In multivariable analyses, costs for not meeting access to rheumatology care and timely treatment performance measures were 20% (95% CI 8-32) and 6% (95% CI 1-12) higher, respectively, than where those measures were met. The main driver of cost savings among individuals meeting all 4 performance measures were from lower complex continuing care, home care, and long-term care costs, as well as fewer hospitalizations and emergency visits. CONCLUSION: Access to rheumatologists for RA diagnosis, timely treatment, and ongoing care are associated with lower total healthcare costs at 5 years. Investments in improving access to care may be associated with long-term health system savings.

Effect of Training on Patient Self-Assessment of Joint Counts in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: Patient self-assessed joint counts, if accurate and reliable, could potentially serve as a useful clinical assessment tool in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This systematic review examines the effect of patient training on the inter-rater reliability of joint counts between patients and clinicians. METHODS: The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL for articles that incorporated patient training and measured the reliability of patient self-assessed joint counts in RA. Articles were included if they reported on the inter-rater reliability between patient and clinician joint counts in both trained and untrained patients with RA. Data were extracted on characteristics of patients, structure and components of the training interventions, joint count reliability of patients with and without training, and patient feedback on training interventions. The relevant data were summarized and described. RESULTS: Multiple training methods have been studied (n = 5), including in-person sessions run by rheumatologists and instructional videos on the joint examination. Overall, training improved the reliability of patient self-joint counts, with more marked improvement in reliability of swollen joint counts than tender joint counts. Patients had positive feedback when surveyed on their experiences with training. CONCLUSION: Various training modalities (in-person and video-based) may be effective at improving reliability of patient self-joint counts. More research is needed on this topic, with potential areas for future research including 1) comparison between the efficacy of different modalities of training, and 2) impact of patient factors (education level and disease severity) on the efficacy of training.

Supporting Equity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Outcomes in Canada: Population-specific Factors in Patient-centered Care.

OBJECTIVE: Health equity considerations have not been incorporated into prior Canadian Rheumatology Association guidelines. Our objective was to identify the challenges and possible solutions to mitigate threats to health equity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) care in Canada. METHODS: A consultation process informed selection of priority populations, determined to be rural and remote, Indigenous, elderly with frailty, first-generation immigrant and refugee, low income and vulnerably housed, and diverse gender and sex populations. Semistructured interviews were completed with patients with lived experience, healthcare providers, and equity-oriented researchers. These interviews probed on population factors, initial and ongoing healthcare access issues, and therapeutic considerations influencing RA care. Known or proposed solutions to mitigate inequities during implementation of service models for the population group were requested. The research team used a phenomenological thematic analysis model and mapped the data into a logic model. Solutions applicable to several population groups were proposed. RESULTS: Thirty-five interviews were completed to identify realities for each population in accessing RA care. Five themes emerged as primary solutions to population-based inequities, including actively improving the patient-practitioner relationship, increasing accessibility and coordination of care through alternative models of care, upholding autonomy in treatment selection while actively addressing logistical barriers and individualized therapy needs, collaborating with health supports valued by the patient, and being advocates for policy change and health system restructuring to ensure appropriate resource redistribution. CONCLUSION: The challenges for populations facing inequities in rheumatology care and promising solutions should inform guideline development and implementation, policy change, and health system restructuring.

Patient Preferences for Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drug Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize patients' preferences for disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We conducted a systematic review to identify English-language studies of adult patients with RA that measured patients' preferences for DMARD or health states and treatment outcomes relevant to DMARD decisions. Study quality was assessed using a published quality assessment tool. Data on the importance of treatment attributes and associations with patient characteristics were summarized across studies. RESULTS: From 7951 abstracts, we included 36 studies from a variety of countries. Most studies were in patients with established RA and were rated as medium- (n = 19) or high-quality (n = 12). The methods to elicit preferences varied, with the most common being discrete choice experiment (DCE; n = 13). Despite the heterogeneity of attributes in DCE studies, treatment benefits (disease improvement) were usually more important than both non-serious (6 of 8 studies) and serious adverse events (5 of 8), and route of administration (7 of 9). Among the non-DCE studies, some found that patients placed high importance on treatment benefits, while others (in patients with established RA) found that patients were quite risk averse. Subcutaneous therapy was often but not always preferred over intravenous therapy. Patient preferences were variable and commonly associated with the sociodemographic characteristics. CONCLUSION: Overall, the results showed that many patients place a high value on treatment benefits over other treatment attributes, including serious or minor side effects, cost, or route of administration. The variability in patient preferences highlights the need to individualize treatment choices in RA.

Improving Appropriate Access to Care With Central Referral and Triage in Rheumatology.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term and long-term impact of a centralized system for the intake and triage of rheumatology referrals on access to care and referral quality. METHODS: An innovative central referral process, the Central Referral and Triage in Rheumatology (CReATe Rheum) program, was implemented in 2006, serving a referral base of 2 million people. Referrals are received in a central office, triaged by trained nurses, and assigned to the next available appointment on a prioritized basis. To evaluate the short-term impact, we compared wait times, duplicate referrals, and no-shows from a pre-implementation practice audit to a 2-year post-implementation evaluation (January 2007 to December 2008). Rheumatologists also assessed the quality and completeness of the referral information and accuracy of the urgency category assigned during triage. We evaluated the long-term impact by tracking referral volume, wait times, and rheumatologist manpower each year until December, 2013. RESULTS: During the first 2 years, wait-time variability between rheumatologists decreased, and wait times were reduced for moderate and urgent referrals. CReATe Rheum improved the quality of referral information and eliminated duplicate referrals. The urgency of the referral was assigned correctly in 90% of referrals. Over the long term, CReATe Rheum maintained short wait times for more urgent patients despite a growing number of referrals and a stable number of rheumatologists. CONCLUSION: A centralized system for the intake and triage of rheumatology referrals improved referral quality, reduced system inefficiencies, and effectively managed wait times on a prioritized basis for a large referral population.

Choosing wisely: the Canadian Rheumatology Association's list of 5 items physicians and patients should question.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a list of 5 tests or treatments used in rheumatology that have evidence indicating that they may be unnecessary and thus should be reevaluated by rheumatology healthcare providers and patients. METHODS: Using the Delphi method, a committee of 16 rheumatologists from across Canada and an allied health professional generated a list of tests, procedures, or treatments in rheumatology that may be unnecessary, nonspecific, or insensitive. Items with high content agreement and perceived relevance advanced to a survey of Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) members. CRA members ranked these top items based on content agreement, effect, and item ranking. A methodology subcommittee discussed the items in light of their relevance to rheumatology, potential effect on patients, and the member survey results. Five candidate items selected were then subjected to a literature review. A group of patient collaborators with rheumatic diseases also reviewed these items. RESULTS: Sixty-four unique items were proposed and after 3 Delphi rounds, this list was narrowed down to 13 items. In the member-wide survey, 172 rheumatologists responded (36% of those contacted). The respondent characteristics were similar to the membership at large in terms of sex and geographical distribution. Five topics (antinuclear antibodies testing, HLA-B27 testing, bone density testing, bone scans, and bisphosphonate use) with high ratings on agreement and effect were chosen for literature review. CONCLUSION: The list of 5 items has identified starting points to promote discussion about practices that should be questioned to assist rheumatology healthcare providers in delivering high-quality care.

Prophylaxis for latent tuberculosis infection prior to anti­tumor necrosis factor therapy in low-risk elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a decision analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if low-risk elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who screen positive for latent tuberculosis (TB) infection prior to anti­tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy should be given isoniazid (INH). METHODS: A Markov model was developed. The base case was a patient age 65 years with RA starting anti-TNF therapy with a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) finding of 5­9 mm, who was born in a country with low TB prevalence and had no other TB risk factors. The decision was 9 months of INH or not. The primary outcome was quality-adjusted life expectancy. Multiple sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: No prophylaxis was favored, with a gain of 1.1 quality-adjusted life days, but the decision was sensitive to several variables. Prophylaxis was favored for patients ages <61 years, if the relative risk (RR) of TB reactivation with RA alone was >2.5, if the RR with anti-TNF therapy was >5.8, or if the utility associated with INH therapy was >0.98. Prophylaxis was also preferred for patients with a TST result >10 mm and for patients from higher risk countries. If 6 months of INH or 4 months of rifampin were used, prophylaxis was preferred, providing that therapy reduced the risk of TB reactivation by >47% and >27%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Withholding prophylaxis prior to anti-TNF therapy may be reasonable for low-risk elderly RA patients with a TST finding of 5­9 mm, although the decision is sensitive to patient preferences. For patients age <61 years from a higher risk country, or with a TST finding >10 mm, prophylaxis is preferred.

Emerging issues in pharmacological management of rheumatoid arthritis: results of a national needs assessment survey identifying practice variations for the development of Canadian Rheumatology Association clinical practice recommendations.

OBJECTIVE: To describe Canadian clinical practice patterns in the pharmacological management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and identify practice variations. METHODS: A 44-item pre-guideline needs assessment survey was sent to all members of the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize respondent characteristics and practice patterns. RESULTS: Survey respondents (n = 164) reported variations in practice regarding assessment strategies, treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drug monotherapy versus combination therapy, methotrexate dosing and escalation, corticosteroid strategies, and optimal use of biologics. CONCLUSIONS: Practice variations identified in this pre-guideline needs assessment survey were used to formulate key treatment questions for the development of CRA recommendations.