Table 4.

Guideline adherence percentages

Guideline adherence parameter	Adherence percentage
Patient level (n=137)
Radiographs of hands, feet and thorax ordered within the first 3 visits, in patients with a disease duration ≤1 year	66 (53/80)
Prescription of DMARDs* in agreement with the local preferential sequence	23 (29/126)
Referral to a specialised nurse within the first 3 visits	72 (98/137)
Referral to a PA or NP within the first year of treatment	21 (29/137)
Visit level (n=994)
Therapy change† in case of moderate-to-high disease activity	67 (191/285)
Regular outpatient clinic visits combined a nurse led DAS28 assessment	37 (253/690)
Correct intervals between regular outpatient clinic visits	32 (160/502)

*Conventional and biological DMARDs.

†Therapy change include starting or increasing dosage of a conventional DMARD or oral corticosteroids, starting a biological DMARD and intramuscular or intra-articular injections with corticosteroids.

DAS28, Disease Activity Score in 28 joints; DMARD, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug; NP, nurse practitioner; PA, physician assistant.