To develop a standardized clinical interview, incorporating the perspectives of general practitioners (GPs) and rheumatologists, for primary care clinical epidemiological studies of adults aged 50 yr and over with knee problems.
Two parallel, consensus development studies using a modified nominal group technique involving GPs (n=5) and consultant rheumatologists (n=4) from North Staffordshire with reference panels of GPs (n=28) and rheumatologists (n=11) from selected centres in Great Britain, respectively. A single standardized clinical interview was formed using the clinical history questions identified in the consensus development studies and its feasibility was tested in a small sample of patients.
In the GP consensus development study, 115 clinical history questions were identified, of which 71 were of agreed importance following postal rating, face-to-face discussion and re-rating. In the rheumatologist study, 158 questions were identified, of which 47 were of agreed importance. There was considerable overlap in the clinical history questions independently developed by the two studies. A single standardized clinical interview containing 74 questions was formed. It contained questions on the history, onset and recent course of the complaint; nature, location and severity of current knee symptoms; impact of knee problem; past history of knee problems; family history; comorbidity; previous/current investigations and treatment; ideas, concerns and expectations. In preliminary testing it took 20-45 min to conduct and was comprehensible to patients.
A research tool-the Knee Standardized Clinical Interview (KNE-SCI)-has been formed from consensus development studies involving GPs and rheumatologists. In preliminary testing, it is comprehensible to patients, and forms a coherent clinical interview for research data collection. However, further evaluation is required to determine its accuracy and reliability and its usefulness for clinical epidemiological research.