Session 4: Methodology for the assessment of treatments in hand osteoarthritis

Objective: To perform a review of methods in clinical trials of hand OA and outline a set of guidelines. Methods: Methods related to assessing treatment in hand OA were classified as those obtaining general consensus and those on which there was disagreement and n eed for further work. Results: It was agreed that criteria validated for trials in knee and hip O A must be re-evaluated for hand OA; and that populations studied, trial par ameters and evaluation tools should meet criteria established herein. Conse nsus was not reached or further work is required regarding functional index , daily or weekly questionnaire, hand(s) taken into account, scoring system and consideration of aesthetic damage. Conclusion: New therapeutic trials are needed in hand OA. Guidelines for fu ture trials are given. (C) 2000 OsteoArthritis Research Society internation al.