British Journal of Rheumatology 1988;27:32-36 SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN RITCHIE SCORES

A study was designed to establish the reliability of assessing joint tenderness in rheumatoid arthritis. Reliability both within and between observers was measured and the 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for a change in score calculated. Forty-two patients were assessed by two metrologists over a 14-week period using three subjects per week. Results showed close agreement within and between metrologists. The 95 % CI for repeat measures by the same metrologist was ±8.5 and ± 12 by a different metrologist. Taking a change of 5 in the score as clinically significant, the 95 % CI for a clinically significant change would be ± 14 with one observer and ± 17 when a different observer repeated the assessment. It is recommended that other centres should establish their own CI for a change in scores when undertaking clinical trials. KEY WORDS: Ritchie articular index, Reliability. THE Ritchie Articular Index is generally accepted as a standard method for assessing joint tenderness in rheumatoid arthritis [1] and is widely used in evaluating the response to anti