Partner Organisations
These living guidelines are produced by three collaborating organisations:
ANZMUSC Clinical Trials Network
The Australia and New Zealand Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Network coordinates musculoskeletal research across Australasia.
Visit websiteAustralian Rheumatology Association
The peak professional body representing rheumatologists in Australia, promoting excellence in clinical care and research.
Visit websiteCochrane Musculoskeletal
Part of the international Cochrane network, providing trusted evidence synthesis for musculoskeletal conditions.
Visit websiteOur Guidelines
We currently produce two NHMRC-approved living guidelines for rheumatology care in Australia:
Adult Inflammatory Arthritis
Covering the pharmacological management of inflammatory arthritis in adults, including rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis.
This guideline applies to all adults diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis and is intended for rheumatologists, GPs, and other healthcare professionals involved in their care.
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Covering the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children and young people, addressing DMARD therapy, glucocorticoids, intra-articular treatments, and non-pharmacological interventions.
This guideline applies to all children and young people diagnosed with JIA and is intended primarily for paediatric rheumatologists, as well as GPs and other healthcare professionals.
Purpose
These Australian Living Guidelines seek to present the best available, current scientific evidence to assist decision making in the management of inflammatory arthritis. The guidelines offer recommended courses of action subject to clinical judgement and patient preferences.
Evidence-based guidelines are crucial to establishing effective, high quality and safe healthcare practice and policy. Within the specialist healthcare field of rheumatology, new approaches to management (including 'treat-to-target') and a rapid expansion in available disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have improved outcomes for many people living with inflammatory arthritis.
However, the increasing rate of production of new evidence regarding treatment means that recommendations can become outdated quickly as new studies are published. Living guidelines overcome the challenge of maintaining guideline currency by facilitating rapid and frequent incorporation of new evidence as it becomes available.
Target Audience
These guidelines are intended for healthcare professionals involved in the care of people with inflammatory arthritis:
Rheumatologists
Adult and paediatric rheumatologists providing specialist care
General Practitioners
Primary care physicians managing patients with arthritis
Pharmacists
Community and hospital pharmacists advising on DMARD therapy
Allied Health
Nurses, physiotherapists, and other healthcare team members
The recommendations apply to all healthcare settings in Australia including public and private healthcare settings. Consumers and patients may also find these guidelines helpful in understanding treatment options and shared decision-making with their healthcare providers.
Expert Panels
Recommendations are developed by interdisciplinary expert advisory panels, which include specialists in rheumatology (adult and paediatric), general practice, clinical immunology, orthopaedic surgery, pharmacy, nursing, podiatry, physiotherapy, methodology, and consumer representation.
For the JIA guideline, we consult with the Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group (APRG), the special interest group of paediatric rheumatologists who are members of the Australian Rheumatology Association.