The total assessment of rheumatoid polyarthritis--evaluation of a training program for physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

We evaluated a training program for physiotherapists and occupational therapists in the total assessment of patients with rheumatoid polyarthritis. Close agreement was seen between the active joint counts of the rheumatologists and 36 therapists (p2 = 0.23). In the 7 quality variables for bedside case workups, a statistically significant learning effect was seen over the 6 week period (p2 = less than 0.005). In the 10 quality variables for the case presentations at Week 6, judged at the graduate medical trainee level, mean global scores achieved were 72.5%. Therapists reported a high level of satisfaction with all components of the program.