Table 3.
List of the most frequent Read codes used in conjunction with free text containing keywords
| Read code | Frequency | Overall rank | Rheumatoid arthritis rank | Inflammatory arthritis rank | Positive RhF test rank | Synovitis rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letter from specialist |
2576 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Seen in rheumatology clinic |
1979 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
| Incoming mail NOS |
770 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
| Rheumatoid factor |
592 |
4 |
3 |
10 |
3 |
|
| Rheumatoid arthritis |
546 |
5 |
6 |
11 |
5 |
6 |
| Patient reviewed |
482 |
6 |
9 |
5 |
7 |
5 |
| Pain in joint - arthralgia |
467 |
7 |
11 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
| Had a chat to patient |
345 |
8 |
|
17 |
6 |
7 |
| Rheumatoid factor screening test |
313 |
9 |
5 |
|
9 |
|
| Incoming mail |
253 |
10 |
13 |
9 |
13 |
8 |
| History / symptoms |
239 |
11 |
8 |
|
10 |
|
| Seen by rheumatologist |
215 |
12 |
14 |
8 |
15 |
9 |
| Communication from: |
208 |
13 |
12 |
19 |
14 |
10 |
| Arthritis |
197 |
14 |
|
4 |
11 |
12 |
| Advice to patient - subject |
191 |
15 |
7 |
|
20 |
|
| MED3 - doctor’s statement |
186 |
16 |
10 |
7 |
18 |
|
| Telephone encounter |
169 |
17 |
18 |
16 |
12 |
|
| Arthralgia of unspecified site |
90 |
18 |
|
|
17 |
13 |
| Hand pain |
90 |
19 |
|
|
16 |
14 |
| Suspected condition |
67 |
20 |
16 |
12 |
|
|
| Nursing care blood sample taken |
59 |
21 |
|
|
19 |
|
| Seen in hospital out-pat. |
56 |
22 |
20 |
|
|
17 |
| R.A. latex test |
53 |
23 |
15 |
|
|
|
| Incoming mail processing |
46 |
24 |
|
14 |
|
15 |
| Serum rheumatoid antigen level |
44 |
25 |
17 |
|
|
|
| Letter from consultant |
34 |
26 |
19 |
|
|
|
| Synovitis or tenosynovitis NOS |
30 |
27 |
|
|
|
11 |
| Synovitis and tenosynovitis |
25 |
28 |
|
|
|
16 |
| Arthropathy NOS |
21 |
29 |
|
13 |
|
|
| Examination of patient |
21 |
30 |
|
|
|
18 |
| Wrist joint pain |
18 |
31 |
|
|
|
19 |
| Seen in orthopaedic clinic |
18 |
32 |
|
15 |
|
|
| Arthropathy NOS |
17 |
33 |
|
|
|
20 |
| MED3 issued to patient |
15 |
34 |
|
18 |
|
|
| Seronegative arthritis | 13 | 35 | 20 |