Research into the Dutch questionnaire for measuring inflammatory activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Ninety per cent of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience foot problems as a result of inflammation in the foot joints and surrounding tissue. Early detection of inflammatory activity in the feet is essential, as prolonged inflammatory activity can lead to unnecessary and permanent deterioration of foot condition. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index-5 (RADAI-F5) is an English-language questionnaire that measures inflammatory activity in the feet. This English-language questionnaire consists of five items that enable inflammatory activity in the feet in RA to be assessed reliably and quickly. The questionnaire has been translated into Dutch and optimised with the help of 11 RA patients and several experts. Its applicability in the Dutch context appears highly feasible, but this must first be tested amongst RA patients. That is why this study has been set up.