Effect of communicating personalized rheumatoid arthritis risk on concern for developing RA: A randomized controlled trial.

Concern was measured with a self-reported 5-point Likert scale, which may not accurately capture disease-related concern. This was a secondary analysis, so the findings are hypothesis-generating rather than conclusive. Participants and study staff could not be blinded to the education method, which may have introduced performance or detection bias. The comparison arm used a one-on-one presentation to hold attention, which may not match usual group education. Self-perceived risk was not measured after the intervention, so changes in perceived risk could not be linked to changes in concern. Most participants were female, white, and college educated, and they were relatives of people with rheumatoid arthritis, so results may not apply to other populations. Because rheumatoid arthritis is uncommon even among first-degree relatives, many participants overestimated risk; it is unclear whether the same effect would occur for more common diseases.

The supplied text does not include a conflicts-of-interest or funding declaration. The publication types list NIH extramural and non-U.S. government research support.

Do not read lowered concern as proof that the web tool alone caused the effect or that this prevents rheumatoid arthritis. Participants also received written results and standard RA information, and this secondary analysis measured concern, not disease onset.