Organization of the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Cochrane Collaboration group in data abstraction form (DAF)

Tags: Poster
Furst DE, van RP

Introduction/Objective: To develop the RACCC in the context of the publication of well over 100 new randomized controlled trials (RCTs) each year.

Methods/Results: To start, the therapy of RA was divided into six groupings: biologies, disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, physical measures and "other" treatments. Volunteers chose one of the above areas and were placed under the aegis of cofacilitators who were to guide a given area under the RACCC chairman. The chairman, in turn, turned to the editorial review group who had oversight for the whole musculoskeletal area. A subcommittee of the RACCC met to develop a uniform data abstraction form (DAF). An initial DAF was composed but no quality assessment document (QAD) was yet agreed upon. Therefore, a sample of seven different QADs was circulated and the one felt to be "best" by a majority of the subcommittee was chosen for inclusion. Finally, a field test of the whole DAF with QAD was carried out, using three multi-center RCTs. Each sub-committee member gave feedback to the chairman for suggested changes in the DAF. With incorporation of these changes, an initial DAF was adopted for use by the RACCC and is now being used for a review of biologies. All co-facilitators are being asked to contact their group members for assignment of journals to be reviewed and for ideas on further Cochrane reviews. Remaining is the development of funds for ongoing data collection.

Discussion:The above process may be an avenue by which one can encompass a large therapeutic area and develop a uniform data abstraction form to accomplish the Cochrane Collaboration goals.