Interpretation and power of a pooled index.

OBJECTIVE: To describe, illustrate, provide statistical rationale and give clinical examples of the concept of a pooled index. METHODS: No explicit design. Randomized control trials of patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis from Rheumatic disease clinics, tertiary care hospitals and communities are used as examples to illustrate the pooled index technique. Interventions in rheumatic disease unit inpatient and outpatient care, occupational …