Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Reliability”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 883 records · Page 49Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Reliability of measurement of angular movements of the pelvis and lumbar spine during treadmill walking.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Angular movements of the pelvis and lumbar spine are thought to play an important role in walking. However, little is known about the amount of unpredictable variability in measurement of these movements during human walking. The aim of the present study was to determine the retest reliability of measuring the angular movements of the pelvis and lumbar spine during unimpaired familiarized treadmill walking. METHOD: Retest reliability for 26 subjects without pathology was determined over a one-week interval. Subjects walked on a treadmill at self-selected or a slower speed while measurements of the three-dimensional angular movements were taken with a computer-based video analysis system. RESULTS: The frontal plane movements of pelvic list and lumbar lateral flexion (relative to the pelvis) could be measured with high retest reliability at both self-selected and slow walking speeds (intraclass coefficient (ICC) (2, 1) > or = 0.81). In contrast, transverse and sagittal plane movements demonstrated moderate reliability at both speeds (0.37 < or = ICC (2, 1) < or = 0.76). Averaging the measurement over six strides resulted in increased observed reliability (self-selected walking speed summary Pearson's r = 0.71, slow walking speed summary Pearson's r = 0.79) compared to taking the measurement based on a single stride (self-selected walking speed summary Pearson's r = 0.63, slow walking speed summary Pearson's r = 0.67). Unlike pelvic and lumbar movements (relative to the pelvis), the measurement of lumbar movements (relative to the global reference frame) appeared to depend on whether subjects were walking at self-selected or slow speeds. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of pelvic list and lumbar lateral flexion (relative to the pelvis) could be applied with confidence to hypothesis testing about individuals or groups. Movements in the transverse and sagittal planes are unlikely to be appropriate in hypothesis testing about individuals and hence clinical practice, but may still have experimental applications in hypothesis testing about groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The reliability of measuring quadriceps cross-sectional area with compound B ultrasound scanning.

Many therapists use thigh circumference as a measure of quadriceps size to evaluate the effect of an injury or effectiveness of an intervention. However, this technique has been shown to be unreliable, thus more accurate methods of measuring muscle size are required. The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of measuring quadriceps cross-sectional area (CSA) with static compound B ultrasound scanning at the level of the mid-thigh. Repeated measures of known linear distances and CSAs were made with a planimetry device. Both face and criterion validity were demonstrated indicating that the device is reliable when measuring CSAs. A single rater located quadriceps muscle borders and measured CSAs on a series of ultrasound scans. A mean coefficient of variation (%CV = 1.7) was observed, signifying high intra-rater reliability. Two raters performed six scans on each of 15 subjects. Initial observation of these results suggest that the measurement of quadriceps CSA with compound B ultrasound scanning is reliable, mean %CVs = 2.8 and 1.9 for the two raters and 2.4 when their results were combined. When raters performed scans on 18 subjects on two occasions on the same day intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were high, 0.991 and 0.980 for raters A and B, respectively. Paired Student's t-tests revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) for Rater B between CSAs measured for initial and relocated scans. However, this difference was calculated as 1.4-2.9% and was not of clinical importance. A significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed between measurements of CSAs made by both raters on the same subject. A calibration factor was calculated for transforming the measurements of Rater B, the use of which gave comparable values. ICCs using a fixed model for inter-rater reliability were 0.963 and 0.974 for actual and transformed values, respectively. This study observed differences between measures obtained by different raters and recommends that the calculation and employment of a calibration factor may be useful when comparing sequential measures made by different raters.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

The interobserver reliability of three-dimensional power Doppler data acquisition within the female pelvis.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the interobserver reliability of three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler data acquisition from the uterus and ovary. METHODS: 3D power Doppler angiography was used to acquire endometrial data from 20 patients and ovarian data from a further 20 different patients at various stages of in vitro fertilization. Two different observers each acquired two datasets from all 40 patients resulting in 80 endometrial and 80 ovarian datasets in total. Virtual Organ Computer-aided AnaLysis was used to define the object of interest and semiquantify the power Doppler signal within it. The reliability of measurements of volume and vascularity was assessed by calculating interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and limits of agreement between the two observers. RESULTS: Whilst volumetric data proved more reliably acquirable than power Doppler data, the interobserver reliability of data acquisition was high overall for both the endometrium and ovary with all measurements obtaining a lower ICC of above 0.9. Limits of agreement revealed minimal disagreement between the two observers for measurements of volume and vascularity within both the ovary and endometrium. The 'indices of vascularity' within the endometrium were less than those derived from the ovary and subendometrium, which were comparable. CONCLUSIONS: 3D ultrasound can be reliably used between observers to acquire power Doppler information from the ovary and endometrium thus supporting the current use and further development of this technique in clinical practice.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1998

On the reliability and validity of noninvasive laterality measures.

The purpose of the present study was to quantify the reliability and validity of laterality effects obtained with noninvasive measures. A meta-analytic approach was used with 88 significance levels pertaining to reliability data and 11 significance levels concerning the validity of the measures. Results showed that reliability is affected by a number of procedural factors. In general, reliability was found to be at a moderate level. The validity of laterality measures was found to be significant but low. These findings suggest that more empirical work is needed to investigate and to improve the validity and reliability of the tasks used in the assessment of laterality effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Time course of perceptual discrimination and single neuron reliability.

The reliability of identification of a visual target increases with time available for inspection of the stimulus. We suggest that the neural basis of this improvement is the existence of a mechanism for integrating a noisy firing rate over some period, leading to a reduction in mean firing rate variance with available processing time. We have determined the experimental time course of the improvement in reliability in a parallel search task where the available inspection time is limited by the presentation of a mask at various times after a brief stimulus. We compare the resulting psychometric functions with the predictions of a model based on Signal Detection Theory. The model is based on the assumption that the reliability of the observer's response is limited by the variability of the responses of individual neurons. The reliability of the discrimination between two stimuli at the neuronal level is then directly related to the ratio of the difference between their integrated mean responses (over many trials) to the response standard deviation. This reliability increases with inspection time. To demonstrate application of the model to electrophysiological data, "neurometric functions" are derived from the firing rates of a monkey V1 cortical neuron. The data were obtained while the animal was active in a discrimination task. The results correspond qualitatively to our observed human psychometric functions.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Reliability of children's reports of depressive symptomatology.

The use of self-report measures for the assessment of depression in children has gained wide popularity as a component in the evaluation of children's mental health and well-being. However, the extent to which children are reliable and consistent reporters of their depressive symptoms is sometimes called into question. This study examined the test-retest reliability of children's reports of depressive symptomatology on the Reynolds Child Depression Scale (RCDS; Reynolds, 1989a). The sample consisted of 220 children, in grades 3 through 6, representing a cross-section of ethnic groups. Children were tested twice, with a 4-week interval between testings. Results showed a high degree of stability in children's responses to the RCDS, with a test-retest reliability coefficient of .85 for the total sample, and a mean difference between testings of less than 2 points. Test-retest reliability coefficients were also computed for males and females, for each grade, and for white, black, Hispanic, and Asian children. Overall, the results lend strong support for the reliability and stability of children's self-reported depressive symptomatology as assessed by the RCDS.

Child↗
PubMed1996

[Interrater reliability of instruments for the evaluation of needs of bedridden persons: a review of the international literature].

Objective and reliable rating of disability and functional dependence is of utmost importance for both medical and rehabilitation research and the practice of social medicine. The present paper provides an overview on internationally used disability scales and on studies that were carried out to determine their inter-rater reliability. Most of the scales were developed in the United States. The number and quality of inter-rater reliability studies strongly vary for various scales. In general, reliability was found to be high for summary scores of disability, whereas reliability strongly varied from extremely poor to excellent for single items of disability. This variation provides valuable suggestions for improving rating of disability.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2000

[Validity and reliability of proband recall of fractures].

The validity and reliability of patient recall of diseases depends on the kind of disease. The validity and reliability of patients' recall of fractures was assessed among the 146 cases of a nested case-control study on independent living following fractures in the elderly. On declaration of a fracture a letter was sent to the general practitioner requesting medical information on the latest fracture receiving treatment. A total of 99 medical discharge letters (68%) could be collected for further evaluation. The information on fracture localisation which was obtained both during the patients interviews 1994/95 and 1998 and through the medical discharge letters were coded with reference to the AO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen)-classification and compared. The Kappa-statistic for the reliability of patient information was 0.80-0.89, and 0.77-0.89 for the validity, depending on the degree of specified concordance. Obtaining information on fractures from patients appears as a valid and reliable source of epidemiologic data. Patients who generally are affected physically or had to stay in a hospital due to a fracture or its treatment seem to have a good recall of this event. It appears that it can be remembered years after the event with sufficient reliability and validity.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Reliability of lumbar dynamometry measurements in patients with chronic low back pain with test-retest measurements on different days.

Lumbar dynamometry is a potentially useful method for assessing the state of trunk muscles in low back pain (LBP) patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of lumbar dynamometry measurements in chronic LBP patients by conducting test-retest measurements on different days. Thirty-one men and 14 women with chronic LBP participated in this study. The experiments consisted of three sets of lumbar dynamometry measurements (Isostation B200) carried out on three different days with a 2- to 3-day interval. A standard protocol was administered to all subjects, consisting of a range-of-motion measurement about each axis, a 5 s maximum isometric trial about each axis and five dynamic repetitions about each axis against a resistance set at 25% and at 50% of the maximum isometric torque. Correlation coefficients and regression analysis were used to detect possible learning effects. One-way anova and regression analysis were used to assess the reliability of the measurements. High coefficients were found for the correlation between the first and second lumbar dynamometry measurements. Regression analysis showed that the differences between those measurements were not significant. This means that there was no learning effect operating between the first and second lumbar dynamometry measurements. One-way anova showed a reliability higher than 0.90 for the torque and velocity parameters. Reliability for the range-of-motion parameters was somewhat lower: between 0.76 and 0.94. Regression analysis showed no significant differences between the second and third measurements for the torque and velocity parameters. For range-of-motion parameters significant differences were found. From this study it can be concluded that the Isostation B200 provides reliable measures of torque and velocity parameters, but measures of the range-of-motion parameters are unreliable. No learning effect operates between the first and second lumbar dynamometry measurements, which means that a single measurement, with prior warming up and practice, is sufficient to assess the performance of the LBP patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

The Hillside Akathisia Scale: a reliability comparison of the English and German versions.

Akathisia usually consists of two components, subjective restlessness and typical movements such as shuffling of the legs, pacing, shifting weight from one leg to the other, and rocking movements of the trunk. The ability to measure akathisia reliably is essential for the assessment of treatments for akathisia and for the evaluation of drug-induced side effects in general. To date, investigators have generally used self-constructed assessment scales without reporting data about reliability or validity. The Hillside Akathisia Scale (HAS) has two subjective and three objective items for which anchored rating points are provided. Reliability was 0.89 for the HAS total score. Reliability for rating subjective symptoms ranged from 0.86 to 0.92, and the objective scores ranged from 0.51 to 0.89. The correlation between HAS and a global assessment of akathisia (modified CGI) was 0.87. These values compare favorably with the original report on the scale indicating that the Hillside Akathisia Scale can validly quantify akathisia with a satisfactory degree of interrater reliability.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The inter-rater reliability and internal consistency of a clinical evaluation exercise.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the internal consistency and inter-rater reliability of a clinical evaluation exercise (CEX) format that was designed to be easily utilized, but sufficiently detailed, to achieve uniform recording of the observed examination. DESIGN: A comparison of 128 CEXs conducted for 32 internal medicine interns by full-time faculty. This paper reports alpha coefficients as measures of internal consistency and several measures of inter-rater reliability. SETTING: A university internal medicine program. Observations were conducted at the end of the internship year. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 32 interns and observers were 12 full-time faculty in the department of medicine. The entire intern group was chosen in order to optimize the spectrum of abilities represented. Patients used for the study were recruited by the chief resident from the inpatient medical service based on their ability and willingness to participate. INTERVENTION: Each intern was observed twice and there were two examiners during each CEX. The examiners were given a standardized preparation and used a format developed over five years of previous pilot studies. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The format appeared to have excellent internal consistency; alpha coefficients ranged from 0.79 to 0.99. However, multiple methods of determining inter-rater reliability yielded similar results; intraclass correlations ranged from 0.23 to 0.50 and generalizability coefficients from a low of 0.00 for the overall rating of the CEX to a high of 0.61 for the physical examination section. Transforming scores to eliminate rater effects and dichotomizing results into pass-fail did not appear to enhance the reliability results. CONCLUSIONS: Although the CEX is a valuable didactic tool, its psychometric properties preclude reliable assessment of clinical skills as a one-time observation.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2005

Reliability of heart rate variability in healthy older women at rest and during orthostatic testing.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In the older population, the reliability of heart rate variability (HRV) has only been evaluated in a few studies, in the supine position, and covering a broad sample of age and patients of both sexes. To document the relevance of using HRV analysis in healthy older women, the aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of HRV indexes during three classical tests. METHODS: 33 healthy women (66.9+/-0.7 years old) performed two test sessions. Each session consisted of an ECG recorded in the supine position, first with free breathing (Test 1), then with controlled breathing (Test 2), and in the upright position (Test 3). Time and frequency HRV indexes were obtained by processing the ECG signals. Reliability was assessed between sessions using Student's paired t-test, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV). RESULTS: There were no differences between the sessions. ICC showed good reliability for all HRV indexes. CV was low for absolute HRV indexes, except in Test 3 for parasympathetic indexes with modest CV. The CV of HRV ratio indexes were modest to high in all three tests. CONCLUSIONS: Time and absolute frequency HRV indexes are reliable when testing healthy older women. Our results support the use of such indexes in gerontology research, to assess the effects of clinical or pharmacological interventions on the autonomic nervous system.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

An innovative and reliable way of measuring health-related quality of life and mental distress in the deaf community.

BACKGROUND: Structured assessment of quality of life and mental distress in deaf people is difficult for various reasons. This paper describes the development and reliability of an interactive computer-based assessment package for measuring quality of life and psychological distress in the deaf population. METHODS: The Brief version of the WHO Quality of Life (WHOQOL) Questionnaire, the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) had been translated into sign-language and videotaped. A total of 236 members of the deaf community in Upper Austria participated by responding to a programme consisting of self-administered written and videotaped test-items presented to them on a notebook computer. The reliability of the various assessments was established on this large community sample. RESULTS: When reliability of the versions for the deaf was compared with that of written versions of the same measures in general population samples, it was found to be somewhat lower, although still in an acceptable range, for the WHO-QOL and the GHQ-12. For the BSI, the reliability was even higher than that of the general population. CONCLUSIONS: For deaf individuals whose preferred communication is sign language, quality of life and mental distress can be effectively and reliably assessed with the use of carefully translated and adapted common instruments.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Occupational abilities and performance scale--reliability-validity assessment factor analysis.

BACKGROUND: This article presents a study of the Occupational Abilities and Performance Scale (OAPS), developed for administration to schizophrenic patients. The reliability and validity of the OAPS has been evaluated. METHOD: A total of 174 schizophrenic patients who participated in the Psychosocial and Vocational Rehabilitation Unit (PVRU) of the University Mental Health Research Institute (UMHRI) in Athens were assessed. The OAPS is conducted at entry and after 18 months, when the client has completed training. RESULTS: The results of the reliability analysis showed very good internal consistency, with high split-half reliability as well as test-retest reliability and inter-rater agreement. The scale was also found to have good predictive validity, as well as concurrent validity. Finally, factor analysis with principal components extraction method was performed in order to assess the construct validity of the scale. CONCLUSIONS: The results of factor analysis supported the conclusion of good reliability and validity of the OAPS and revealed the existence of five components, each correlated with a set of the original items.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Reliability of the Camberwell assessment of need (Chinese version) for patients with schizophrenia at a daycare center of Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Despite its wide use in different cultures and languages, there has been no report about the Camberwell Assessment of Need (CAN) in Chinese patients. METHOD: Forty-one Chinese chronic schizophrenic patients were interviewed to test the interrater reliability and test-retest reliability of the Chinese version of CAN. RESULTS: The interrater reliability ranged from 0.82 to 0.98 when computed by intraclass correlations (ICC) for the numbers of needs and from 0.65 to 1.00 by Cohen's kappa coefficients for individual domain. The test-retest reliability was moderate to good for the numbers of needs (ICC=0.64-0.81), but varied when counted by Cohen's kappa coefficients for individual domain. CONCLUSION: Although limited by the homogeneity and small sample size of the study group, this is the first trial of the CAN in Chinese culture. The satisfactory reliability and easy application make this instrument suitable for clinical use in Chinese culture.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of harvested and normal patellar tendons: a reliability analyses of magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography.

This study compared the reliability (interchangeability) of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US) examinations of the patellar tendon after using central third patellar tendon autografts during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Nineteen consecutive patients (7 women, 12 men) underwent bilateral MRI and US of the patellar tendons 27 (24-29) months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using ipsilateral central third patellar tendon autografts. Two experienced radiologists blinded to one another evaluated the examinations. Measurements of the length of the noninjured patellar tendon showed the greatest reliability between MRI and US, with no systematic difference (P=0.48), a small mean difference (-0.1 mm), and an interclass correlation coefficient of 0.74. The measurements of the thickness and width of the noninjured side were also judged as reliable. However, on the injured side a lower reliability was found between MRI and US. We conclude that MRI and US are reliable (interchangeable) methods only for evaluating noninjured patellar tendons.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Reliability of CXR for the diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

BACKGROUND: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) continues to be prevalent, despite new treatment, in part because of increased survival in less mature infants. Investigations of new treatments have been hampered by a lack of universally accepted diagnostic criteria. Radiographic scoring systems have been developed to provide objective assessment of lung injury and risk for chronic lung disease. OBJECTIVE: We sought to test the reliability of a recently reported system using chest radiography as the main tool for diagnosis of BPD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred chest radiographs, half demonstrating BPD and the other half without BPD, were analyzed by pediatric radiologists and by a neonatologist, using the Weinstein score (1-6, depending on increasing radiographic severity). The reliability of this scoring system was tested by kappa (k) statistics. RESULTS: Reliability at the lowest threshold (dividing score 1 from score > or = 2) was unacceptably low in this population. Reliability increased with inclusion of higher BPD scores in the comparison groups: 1-3 versus 4-6. CONCLUSION: Using the chest radiograph for the prediction of BPD is not reliable between different observers except at the two extremes of the disease.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia↗
PubMed2006

Reliability of the Crowe und Hartofilakidis classifications used in the assessment of the adult dysplastic hip.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the inter-observer and intra-observer reliability of two commonly used radiographic classification systems in the evaluation of hip dysplasia in skeletally mature adults. DESIGN: Three observers with different levels of training independently classified 62 dysplastic hips on 51 standard anteriorposterior pelvis radiographs according to the criteria defined by Crowe and by Hartofilakidis. To assess intra-observer reliability, the same radiographs were reviewed 3 months later by the same observers. PATIENTS: At the time of the radiographic examination, the mean age of the 51 patients had been 54 years (range 18-82 years). RESULTS: A high correlation concerning the inter- and intra-observer reliability of both systems was demonstrated. Inter-observer reliability displayed a weighted kappa coefficient of 0.82 for the Crowe and 0.75 for the Hartofilakidis classification. Intra-observer reliability showed a kappa coefficient of 0.86 and 0.79, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both classification systems can be recommended to compare collectives of adult patients with congenital dysplasia of the hip. However, for future clinical practice, it would be advisable to agree on one universally accepted system as a standard in the literature.

Adolescent↗