[RheumaCheck: development and evaluation of a German language screening instrument for rheumatic diseases].

Objective: Early diagnosis of inflammatory rheumatic diseases is important for patients' prognosis and outcome. The mean time delay of 1 to 5 years in Germany between the initial symptoms and the first rheumatologist contact should be reduced. Efficiency of patient questionnaires for the identification of inflammatory rheumatic diseases has been demonstrated in other countries.