A two-year randomized controlled trial with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. At baseline, patients were randomized electronically with stratification according to biologic and non-biologic treatment to the open outpatient clinic programme, or usual care. Patients were evaluated at baseline, year 1 and 2, including assessment of disease activity (DAS-28), blood tests, bone erosions on plain radiographs of hands and feet, and patient reported outcome measures.~The objective of the study was to compare an outpatient system for Danish RA patients based on patient self-controlled outpatient follow up on demand, Open Outpatient Clinic Programme with traditional scheduled routine follow-up regarding patient satisfaction and effect on traditional disease markers.~The Danish National Patient Registry (DANBIO) was used to identify eligible patients with RA. At pre-planned routine visits with the rheumatologist, identified patients were screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria.~The intervention group had no scheduled appointments at the outpatient clinic, but they could book acute appointments with their contact rheumatologist within 5 days or less whenever they deemed it necessary. They also had access to nurse-led consultations without pre-booked appointments and to a nurse-led telephone helpline
A two-year randomized controlled trial with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Patients were randomized electronically with stratification according to biologic and non-biologic treatment to the open outpatient clinic programme, or usual care. Patients were evaluated at baseline, year 1 and 2, including assessment of disease activity and reporting of outcomes measures on a touch screen at the clinic.