内容简介：
Despite more than 50 years' experience with outcome measurement in musculoskeletal clinical trials, there is little conformity in the methods used, and no standard text on clinical metrology exists. This new book reviews the methods used to assess the clinical efficacy of antirheumatic drugs in adult patients with musculoskeletal disease, focusing primarily on clinical rather than laboratory or radiographic measures. There are four parts: overviews of fundamental issues in clinical metrology; of outcome measures relevant to antirheumatic drugs; a review of current clinimetric practices in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and fibromyalgia clinical trials; and a discussion of different measurement techniques. The text is complemented by many illustrations and three appendices. The book is a highly informative text which will be of interest to all involved in evaluating treatment strategies for musculoskeletal patients, as well as those involved in the development and regulation of antirheumatic drugs.