The HAQ was developed as a comprehensive measure of outcome in patients with a wide variety of rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, scleroderma, ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, and psoriatic arthritis. It has also been applied to patients with HIV/AIDS and in studies of normal aging. It should be considered a generic rather than a disease-specific instrument.

The Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQc) has been adapted from the Health Assessment Questionnaire and was developed in American-English to evaluate the disability, discomfort and pain of a child with any illness by assessing the child’s functional ability over the past week. It is composed of eight categories, each of which has at least two component questions. The HAQc is a parent administered questionnaire. The author has shown that parents are reliable proxy-reporters for their child’s functional status. The HAQc has been used extensively in children with rheumatoid arthritis and has excellent measurement properties.

The WOMAC® Index is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses the three dimensions of pain, disability and joint stiffness in knee and hip osteoarthritis using a battery of 24 questions. The latest version of the instrument (WOMAC® 3.1) is available for 60 countries in over 80 alternate language forms, and in many languages is available in 5-point Likert, 100mm Visual Analogue and 11-point Numerical Rating Scale formats.

The AUSCAN© Index is a self-administered questionnaire that assesses the three dimensions of pain, disability and joint stiffness in hand osteoarthritis using a battery of 15 questions. The instrument is available for 27 countries in over 30 alternate language forms, and in many languages is available in 5-point Likert, 100mm Visual Analogue and 11-point Numerical Rating Scale formats.

The 24-Hr-MQOLQ is a 15-item, self-administered questionnaire aimed at assessing the quality of life of migraine sufferers within a 24-hour period after having taken migraine medication and within the first 24 hours of a migraine attack. The items cover five domains, which are work, social, energy and vitality, feeling and concerns, and symptoms.