Table 3.
Number and timing of free text string events compared with timing of coded information
| Category | Patients with text entry (N) (%) | Patients with equivalent code (N) (%) | Patients with text only (N) (%) | Median time earliest text entry prior to RA code (days) (IQR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMARD | 114 (39%) | 131 (45%) | 27 (9%) | 38 (0–281) |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | 121 (41%) | 294 (100%) | – | 34 (0–168) |
| Inflammatory arthritis | 63 (21%) | 33 (11%) | 53 (18%) | 140 (28–256) |
| Other arthritis | 124 (42%) | 41 (14%) | 109 (37%) | 148 (37.5–361) |
| Synovitis | 54 (18%) | 11 (4%) | 48 (16%) | 82 (16–206) |
| Referral to rheumatology | 126 (43%) | 122 (42%) | 61 (21%) | 68.5 (14–181) |
| Joint pain | 193 (66%) | – | – | 169 (52–356) |
| Effusion | 28 (10%) | – | – | 102 (15.5–278) |
| Stiffness | 108 (37%) | – | – | 116.5 (18.5–263) |
| Swelling | 137 (47%) | – | – | 148 (35–302) |
| Any joint symptom | 221 (75%) | 133 (45%) | 106 (36%) | |
| Rh test, no result | 94 (32%) | – | – | 47.5 (17–154) |
| Positive Rh test | 62 (21%) | – | – | 66 (8–169) |
| Negative Rh test | 25 (8.5%) | – | – | 178 (11–334) |
| Any Rh test reference | 135 (46%) | 163 (55%) | 26 (9%) | |
| Steroids | 86 (29%) | – | – | 119 (18–372) |
| Non-specific inflammatory markers | 185 (63%) | 181 (62%) | 52 (18%) | 120 (23–298) |
DMARD, disease-modifying antirheumatic drug; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; Rh, rheumatoid factor.