• Mi Ryoung Seo, Gunwoo Kim, Ki Won Moon, Yoon Kyoung Sung, Jong Jin Yoo, Chong Hyeon Yoon, Eun Bong Lee, Jisoo Lee, Eun Ha Kang, Hyungjin Kim, Eun Jung Park, Wan Sik Uhm, Myeung Su Lee, Seung Won Lee, Byoong Yong Choi, Seung Jae Hong, and Han Joo Baek.
• Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
• J. Korean Med. Sci. 2021 May 3; 36 (17): e109.

BackgroundThere is increasing interest in the quality of health care and considerable efforts are being made to improve it. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease that can result in favorable outcomes when appropriate diagnosis and treatment are provided. However, several studies have shown that RA is often managed inappropriately. Therefore, the Korean College of Rheumatology aimed to develop quality indicators (QIs) to evaluate and improve the health care of patients with RA.MethodsPreliminary QIs were derived based on the existing guidelines and QIs for RA. The final QIs were determined through two separate consensus meetings of experts. The consensus was achieved through a panel of experts who voted using the modified Delphi method.ResultsFourteen final QIs were selected among 70 preliminary QIs. These included early referral to and regular follow-up with a rheumatologist, radiographs of the hands and feet, early initiation and maintenance of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy, periodic assessment of disease activity, screening for drug safety and comorbidities, including viral hepatitis and tuberculosis before biologic DMARD therapy, periodic laboratory testing, supplementation with folic acid, assessment of the risk for cervical spine instability before general anesthesia, patient education, and specialized nurse.ConclusionThese QIs can be used to assess and improve the quality of health care for patients with RA.© 2021 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.

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