Screening for Signs and Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Table 3. Sensitivity and specificity of family physicians
and nurse practitioners compared to rheumatologist
assessment in each circuit*
Sensitivity
Specificity
Group A
Family physician
Nurse practitioner
Nurse practitioner
100 (74–100)†
80 (55–100)
60 (30–90)
70 (42–98)
80 (55–100)
100 (74–100)†
Group B
Family physician
Family physician
Nurse practitioner
60 (30–90)
80 (55–100)
90 (71–100)
82 (59–100)
82 (59–100)
73 (46–99)
* Values are the percentage (95% confidence interval).
† One-sided 95% confidence interval.
observed, the health care professional recorded the location
of the abnormality (e.g., left hand), type of abnormality (e.g.,
Heberden’s nodes), and if RA was suspected. After completing
each GALS examination, each health care professional
submitted their recording sheet to a research assistant before
moving to the next examination room to assess the next
participant. The health care professionals were blinded to the
observations of the other health care professionals.
Ethics approval was obtained from the Hamilton Health
Sciences/McMaster University Faculty of Health