Patient Focus Groups. Both male and female patients were enrolled with early and late disease of differing ages and in different ethnic groups. The appropriate representative number of these patients was estimated from the demographics collected from patients in previous research studies using this population. Patients were recruited from the rheumatology outpatient clinic at King’s College Hospital. Patients were approached via the rheumatology specialist nurses and physicians. The study aimed for six to eight patients in each focus group and six patients agreed to take part in each; there was one drop out in the second focus group.
Patient Focus Groups. For the focus groups, in order to have diversity and a breadth of views, purposive and quota sampling of patients with RA as defined by the 1987 American college of Rheumatology criteria [Xxxxxx et al. 1988] were undertaken. The aim was to include patients with early disease, late disease, both male and female patients, differing ages and patients in different ethnic groups. Quota sampling using demographic data from a previous study of RA patients in the same population allowed for estimation of the correct number of male patients and ethnic mix in the focus groups. All patients were recruited from the rheumatology outpatient clinic at King’s College Hospital, aiming for six to eight patients in each focus group. Patients were approached either directly by Xx Xxxxxxx or by one of the rheumatology nurse specialists. Six patients agreed to take part in each focus group. All patients signed an informed consent (Appendix 1).There was only one dropout in the second focus group, which therefore consisted of five patients. The patient who dropped out was female of Asian background. The demographics for the patients who participated in the focus groups are summarised in Table 3.1.
