An assessment of rheumatology fellows' skills as clinical teachers through self-assessment and direct observation.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess rheumatology fellows' teaching skills through an Observed Structured Teaching Exercise (OSTE), self-assessment, and a survey of fellows' teaching experiences.

Methods: Rheumatology fellows from 5 institutions participated in an in-person OSTE, involving a simulated teaching encounter with a standardized learner. Trained faculty observers rated each OSTE encounter to assess the fellows' proficiency as a clinical teacher in the following domains: learning environment, learner assessment, presenting material, feedback, and overall teaching ability.

Associations Between Changes in Pain Sensitization and Disease Activity Following Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drug Therapy in Established Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Abnormalities in pain regulatory mechanisms are common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We investigated whether pain sensitization changes after treatment with a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) and explored associations between changes in pain sensitization and disease activity.

Methods: We included 182 participants with active RA initiating/switching DMARD therapy who were observed for 12 weeks.

Development, Usability, and Validity Evidence of a Rheumatology Telehealth Feedback Form.

Objective: Rheumatology telehealth is widespread, making it essential that rheumatology fellows-in-training (FITs) achieve competence delivering telehealth care before entering the workforce. Feedback enhances telehealth skill development. This study develops a Rheumatology Telehealth Feedback Form (RTFF) that incorporates existing data and expertise as well as gathers validity evidence supporting its use.

The skeletal abnormalities and their clinical challenges in -associated syndrome.

-associated syndrome (SAS) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by pathogenic variations in the special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 () gene. In addition to neurodevelopmental and craniofacial defects, over 90% of patients with SAS manifest biochemical and/or radiographic skeletal abnormalities, and around one-third of patients report clinical and/or radiographic fractures. SATB2 protein is a potent transcription factor that promotes osteoblast differentiation and maturation; loss-of-function pathogenic variations of the gene result in a wide spectrum of skeletal abnormalities ranging from gross skeletal anomalies to abnormal bone turnover markers, low BMD, and recurrent fractures.

Risk factors for interstitial lung disease in early rheumatoid arthritis and external validation of screening strategies: Baseline results of SAIL-RA.

Background: Risk factors and screening strategies for rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) have received limited evaluation in patients with early RA. We investigated RA-ILD prevalence, risk factors, and the performance of proposed RA-ILD screening methodologies in a multicenter, prospective study of patients with early RA.

Methods: Participants with early RA, defined as being within two years of RA diagnosis, were enrolled at five US sites and assessed with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest imaging, pulmonary function tests, and autoantibodies.

Lessons on Telemedicine in Rheumatology: Thinking beyond the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine was rapidly deployed to meet the clinical needs of patients with rheumatic diseases worldwide. Rheumatologists were forced to care for patients with all rheumatic diseases, regardless of disease activity, and limited evidence was available to guide provider decision-making regarding telemedicine appropriateness for outpatient rheumatology encounters. As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, the ongoing provision of rheumatology telemedicine care in the U.

2023 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) Guideline for the Treatment of Interstitial Lung Disease in People with Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases.

Objective: We provide evidence-based recommendations regarding the treatment of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in adults with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs).

Methods: We developed clinically relevant population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes questions. A systematic literature review was then performed, and the available evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology.

Assessing Patient Values and Preferences to Inform the 2023 American College of Rheumatology/American College of Chest Physicians Interstitial Lung Disease Guidelines.

Objective: Patient engagement is critical to clinical practice guideline (CPG) development. This work presents our approach to ascertaining patients' values and preferences to inform the American College of Rheumatology guidelines for screening, monitoring, and treatment of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in people with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional qualitative study of a purposefully sampled Patient Panel using a modified content analytic approach.

2023 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) Guideline for the Treatment of Interstitial Lung Disease in People with Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases.

Objective: We provide evidence-based recommendations regarding the treatment of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in adults with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs).

Methods: We developed clinically relevant population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes questions. A systematic literature review was then performed, and the available evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology.

2023 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) Guideline for the Screening and Monitoring of Interstitial Lung Disease in People with Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases.

Objective: We provide evidence-based recommendations regarding screening for interstitial lung disease (ILD) and the monitoring for ILD progression in people with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs), specifically rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, mixed connective tissue disease, and Sjögren disease.

Methods: We developed clinically relevant population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes questions related to screening and monitoring for ILD in patients with SARDs. A systematic literature review was performed, and the available evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology.

2023 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) Guideline for the Screening and Monitoring of Interstitial Lung Disease in People with Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases.

Objective: We provide evidence-based recommendations regarding screening for interstitial lung disease (ILD) and the monitoring for ILD progression in people with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs), specifically rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, mixed connective tissue disease, and Sjögren disease.

Methods: We developed clinically relevant population, intervention, comparator, and outcomes questions related to screening and monitoring for ILD in patients with SARDs. A systematic literature review was performed, and the available evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology.

A Fracture Liaison Service to Address Vitamin D Deficiency for Patients Hospitalized for Osteoporotic Fracture.

Context: Addressing vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is important for fracture secondary prevention.

Objectives: To explore the function of a fracture liaison service (FLS) to address VDD.

Design Setting And Patients: An observational study of patients admitted to the Massachusetts General Hospital with fractures between January 1, 2016, and October 31, 2023, cared for by the FLS.

Enhancing Faculty Development Through Compiled Verbal Feedback on Clinical Teaching From Trainees.

Objective: Feedback from fellows-in-training (FITs) is important for faculty development and to enrich clinical teaching. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of traditional online evaluations and a novel compiled verbal feedback mechanism.

Methods: An annual feedback system was implemented in our rheumatology division in which FITs provided verbal feedback on all faculty to a facilitator who compiled, deidentified, and shared the feedback with individual faculty members.

Clinically Recognized Depression and Mental Health Treatment in a Single Center Cohort of Patients with Systemic Sclerosis.

Introduction: In this study, we investigated the prevalence of depression, depression treatment, and symptom burden in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and examined their associations with the center for epidemiologic studies depression scale revised (CESD-R) scores.

Methods: The Prospective Registry in Scleroderma at Massachusetts General Hospital (PRISM) is a longitudinal registry of patients with SSc. Among participants with CESD-R score ≥ 16, indicating possible depression, a chart review was performed for mental health diagnoses and treatments.

Sex Differences in Pain and Quantitative Sensory Testing in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have higher pain and worse functional outcomes compared to men, even when treated with similar medications. The objective of this study was to identify sex differences in pain intensity, pain interference, and quantitative sensory tests (QST), which are independent of inflammation, in patients with RA.

Methods: This study is a post hoc analysis of participants in the Central Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis cohort.

Virtual Learning and Assessment in Rheumatology Fellowship Training: Objective Structured Clinical Examination Revisited.

Objective: With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an annual multi-institutional face-to-face rheumatology objective structured clinical examination (ROSCE) was transformed into a virtual format. The educational goals of the virtual ROSCE (vROSCE) were to reproduce the educational value of the previous in-person ROSCE, providing a valuable formative assessment of rheumatology training activities encompassing the 6 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies for fellows-in-training (FITs). This article describes the novel design, feasibility, and stakeholder value of a vROSCE.

Incorporating Telemedicine in Rheumatology Fellowship Training Programs: Needs Assessment, Curricular Intervention, and Evaluation.

Objective: To increase the confidence of rheumatology fellows in training (FITs) in delivering virtual care (VC) and prepare them for independent practice, we developed educational materials addressing gaps in their skills.

Methods: We identified gaps in telemedicine skills based on FIT performance in a virtual rheumatology objective structured clinical examination (vROSCE) station on VC delivery using video teleconference technology and survey (survey 1) responses. We created educational materials including videos of "mediocre" and "excellent" VC examples, discussion/reflection questions, and a document summarizing key practices.