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At least 1,387 records · Page 77Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Inter-rater reliability of the Sødring Motor Evaluation of Stroke patients (SMES).

The Sødring Motor Evaluation of Stroke patients is an instrument for physiotherapists to evaluate motor function and activities in stroke patients. The rating reflects quality as well as quantity of the patient's unassisted performance within three domains: leg, arm and gross function. The inter-rater reliability of the method was studied in a sample of 30 patients admitted to a stroke rehabilitation unit. Three therapists were involved in the study; two therapists assessed the same patient on two consecutive days in a balanced design. Cohen's weighted kappa and McNemar's test of symmetry were used as measures of item reliability, and the intraclass correlation coefficient was used to express the reliability of the sumscores. For 24 out of 32 items the weighted kappa statistic was excellent (0.75-0.98), while 7 items had a kappa statistic within the range 0.53-0.74 (fair to good). The reliability of one item was poor (0.13). The intraclass correlation coefficient for the three sumscores was 0.97, 0.91 and 0.97. We conclude that the Sødring Motor Evaluation of Stroke patients is a reliable measure of motor function in stroke patients undergoing rehabilitation.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Reliability of measurements of pulmonary artery pressure obtained with patients in the 60 degrees lateral position.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring of pulmonary artery pressure is an essential component of the care of critically ill patients. The conditions under which reliable measurements can be obtained must be clarified. OBJECTIVES: To determine (1) whether reliable measurements of pulmonary artery pressure can be obtained with patients in the right or left 60 degrees lateral position and (2) which characteristics of patients preclude obtaining reliable measurements. METHODS: One hundred five patients (65 cardiac surgery, 40 general medicine) with pulmonary artery catheters were enrolled in a prospective, stratified, quasi-experimental study. Subjects were repositioned from supine (head of bed elevated < 30 degrees with 1 pillow) to the left and right 60 degrees lateral positions. Systolic, diastolic, and mean pulmonary artery pressures and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were measured before and 5, 10, and 20 minutes after lateral repositioning. The zero reference was the phlebostatic axis when patients were supine and the dependent midclavicular line at the level of the fourth intercostal space when patients were in the lateral positions. RESULTS: In most patients, measurements obtained with patients in the lateral position differed significantly from measurements obtained with patients supine. None of the variables examined were reliable predictors of which patients would have these differences. More than 11% of the patients had clinically significant differences in addition to the statistically significant differences. CONCLUSION: Reliable measurements of pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure cannot be obtained with patients in the 60 degrees lateral position.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Isometric strength measurements in children with arthritis: reliability and relation to function.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the reliability of testing strength in children with juvenile arthritis (JA), and to determine the relationship between strength and function. METHODS: Children with JA were tested for grip and pinch strength (n = 32). Isometric force produced by hip abductors and knee extensors was tested with a hand-held dynamometer (n = 29). Two therapists both performed each of the tests twice so that intrarater and interrater reliability could be examined. Function was measured by means of the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) and performance on a 50-meter run. Reliability was examined with intraclass correlations (ICC). The relationships of strength and function were determined with Pearson and Spearman correlations. RESULTS: All measures demonstrated good intrarater (ICC = 0.92-0.97) and interrater (ICC = 0.80-0.95) reliability. Grip strength and pinch were correlated with the CHAQ (r = -0.45 and -0.33, respectively), while hip abduction and knee extension torque were correlated with rankings on the 50-meter run (rho = -0.34 and -0.38, respectively). CONCLUSION: Isometric strength can be reliably measured in children with arthritis in a clinical setting.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2000

Measurements used to characterize the foot and the medial longitudinal arch: reliability and validity.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Abnormality in the structure of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot is commonly thought to be a predisposing factor to injury. The purpose of this investigation was to compare the reliability and validity of several measurements used to characterize various aspects of the foot, including the medial longitudinal arch. SUBJECTS: One hundred two feet (both feet of 51 subjects) were measured to establish a reference database. From this group, a subset of 20 feet (both feet of 10 subjects) was used to determine intertester and intratester reliability. Radiographs of a further subset of 10 feet (right feet of 10 subjects) were used to determine validity. METHODS: Five foot measurements were taken in 2 stance conditions: 10% of weight bearing and 90% of weight bearing. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for intertester and intratester measurements were between.480 and.995. The most reliable method of characterizing arch type in 10% of weight bearing between testers was dividing navicular height by foot length in 10% of weight bearing. However, this measure yielded highly unreliable measurements in 90% of weight bearing. The most valid measurements were navicular height divided by truncated foot length, navicular height divided by foot length in 10% of weight bearing, and navicular height divided by foot length in 90% of weight bearing. Dorsum height at 50% of foot length divided by truncated foot length showed relatively high intertester reliability (ICC=.811 in 10% of weight bearing, ICC=.848 in 90% of weight bearing) and validity (ICC=.844 in 10% of weight bearing, ICC=.851 in 90% of weight bearing). CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: These data suggest that, of the measures tested, the most reliable and valid method of clinically assessing arch height across 10% and 90% of weight bearing was dividing the dorsum height at 50% of foot length by truncated foot length.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Scoring reliability of the multiple sleep latency test in a clinical population.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine intrarater and interrater scoring reliability of the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) in a population of sleep clinic patients. DESIGN: N/A. SETTING: Urban sleep center. PATIENTS: 200 consecutive sleep center patients (diagnoses included: obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, periodic-limb-movement, and individuals with no diagnosis). INTERVENTIONS: N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: MSLTs were recorded and scored according to standard clinical procedures. One of four clinical polysomnographers and one of seven polysomnographic technologists scored each MSLT. All MSLTs were then rescored by the same polysomnographer. The intrarater reliability coefficient for mean MSLT score was .87 and interrater reliability was .90. Coefficients for the mean number of REM onsets during the MSLT were .81 for intrarater and .88 for interrater reliability. Intrarater and interrater agreement (kappa coefficients) for the presence of at least one REM onset during the MSLT was .78 and .86, respectively. For the presence of greater than one REM onset, a kappa of .78 was obtained for intrarater agreement and .91 for interrater agreement. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical MSLT displays excellent interrater and intrarater reliability estimates for both sleep latency and REM onset scores in a sleep-disordered population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The consistency and reliability of periodontal bone level measurements using digital scanning radiographic image analysis--a pilot study.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the consistency and reliability of alveolar bone height measurement using digital scanning radiographic image analysis (DSRIA). A randomly selected (standardized paralleling technique) periapical radiographs of 20 molar teeth (10 maxillary molars and 10 mandibular molars) from 178 individuals with periodontitis were reporting or referred to the patient population of the dental clinics of the teaching hospital. Radiographic measurements were performed and read by two examiners, with a separation time of three weeks of different tooth groups and as established by double reading of 20 molar teeth in 10 individuals using the DSRIA. The calculating data of radiographic alveolar bone loss (RABL) measured and analyzed by the DSRIA for each molar group were compared based on the inter- and intra-examiners' data. The means and standard deviations were calculated to compare radiographs of the inter- and intra-examiners' groups. The reliability coefficients were computed to assess the consistency and reliability for each molar group. The results revealed that the intra- and inter-examiners' reliability coefficients ranged from 0.986 to 0.995 (p < 0.001, significantly different from 0). An excellent reproducibility was indicated in maxillary molar, mandibular molar and of both arches, respectively. It was concluded that the standard periapical radiograph using the DSRIA has the potential to be a valuable and reliable method in measuring linear alveolar bone defects caused by periodontitis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Intraexaminer and interexaminer reliability for palpation of the cranial rhythmic impulse at the head and sacrum.

BACKGROUND: A range of health care practitioners use cranial techniques. Palpation of a cranial rhythmic impulse (CRI) is a fundamental clinical skill used in diagnosis and treatment with these techniques. There has been little research establishing the reliability of CRI rate palpation. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to establish the intraexaminer and interexaminer reliability of CRI rate palpation and to investigate the "core-link" hypothesis of craniosacral interaction that is used to explain simultaneous motion at the cranium and sacrum. DESIGN: Within-subjects, repeated-measures design. SUBJECTS: Two registered osteopaths, both with postgraduate training in diagnosis and treatment, using cranial techniques, palpated 11 normal healthy subjects. METHODS: Examiners simultaneously palpated for the CRI at the head and the sacrum of each subject. Examiners indicated the "full flexion" phase of the CRI by activating silent foot switches that were interfaced with a computer. Subject arousal was monitored using heart rate. Examiners were blind to each other's results and could not communicate during data collection. RESULTS: Reliability was estimated from calculation of intraclass correlation coefficients (2,1). Intrarater reliability for examiners at either the head or the sacrum was fair to good, significant intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from +0.52 to +0.73. Interexaminer reliability for simultaneous palpation at the head and the sacrum was poor to nonexistent, ICCs ranging from -0.09 to +0.31. There were significant differences between rates of CRI palpated simultaneously at the head and the sacrum. CONCLUSIONS: The results fail to support the construct validity of the "core-link" hypothesis as it is traditionally held by proponents of craniosacral therapy and osteopathy in the cranial field.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

A preliminary report on the Chinese Cancer Pain Assessment Tool (CCPAT): reliability and validity.

BACKGROUND: This study was to establish the validity and reliability of the Chinese Cancer Pain Assessment Tool (CCPAT) for Chinese patients with cancer pain in Hong Kong. METHODS: It was a quasi-experimental study. The CCPAT was tested for its reliability and validity by 26 cancer pain patients and 26 chronic non-cancer pain patients. McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), with its established reliability and validity, was used as the criterion tool for comparison. RESULTS: An internal consistency of 0.88 and the inter-rater reliability of 0.96 were obtained for the CCPAT. The Spearman's Rho correlations between the functional and emotional dimensions of the CCPAT and the present pain intensity of the MPQ positively correlated. This indicated a satisfactory concurrent validity. Discriminant validity was performed with MANOVA. The CCPAT was able to predict 80.8% of the subjects correctly as cancer pain patient from the cancer pain group. CONCLUSIONS: The constructed CCPAT is a valid and reliable cancer pain assessment tool in a Chinese context. The developed CCPAT is the first of its kind for the Chinese community in Hong Kong. It is anticipated that the results can provide the health care professionals with the best possible instrument and indicator. The CCPAT also lays the theoretical construct for the professionals with a better understanding of the experience of cancer pain from a multidimensional perspective.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Do dissociations between implicit and explicit memory disappear, when reliability of the tests is comparable? An example].

Implicit memory measures tend to be less reliable than explicit memory measures. Consequently dissociations can arise as a consequence of differential reliabilities of the tasks. In the present study the effect of a manipulation of levels of processing in an implicit and an explicit memory task were investigated in a sample of 200 students after establishing comparable reliabilities of the memory tasks. A fragmented object-naming test was used as an indirect test and a recognition task was used as a direct test. The reliabilities of these measures were comparable in all conditions. A main effect of levels of processing, but no interaction between type of test and levels of processing, was found. These findings reinforce the necessity of taking into account the reliability of memory measures for the interpretation of dissociations between explicit and implicit memory.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of clinical thermometers for accuracy and reliability.

The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy and reliability of a wide range of clinical thermometry instruments and technologies. In a historical sense, the purpose of this study was to determine if the improvements in speed, ease of use, and safety realized in the last 100 years have been offset by a loss of accuracy and/or reliability. In view of current events, the purpose was to determine if the new generation of electronic, digital clinical thermometers could be used to replace the traditional glass/mercury thermometers. Nine clinical thermometers representing electronic, digital oral, and predictive oral; electronic, digital infrared tympanic; and liquid crystal urinary technologies were evaluated. Accuracy was determined by comparing the temperatures obtained from these test instruments with those of the reference, glass/mercury oral thermometer. Reliability was determined by test-retest evaluation. All of the thermometers evaluated were significantly less accurate when compared with the reference thermometer in this study. All of the test instruments significantly underestimated higher temperatures and overestimated lower temperatures. This study indicated that the improvements in safety, speed, and ease of use of the newer clinical thermometers have been offset by a loss in accuracy and reliability. It also indicated that the current generation of electronic, digital clinical thermometers, in general, may not be sufficiently accurate or reliable to replace the traditional glass/mercury thermometers.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Intra- and intersession reliability of acoustic rhinometry in measuring nasal cross-sectional area.

We evaluated the intrasession and intersession reliability of acoustic rhinometry in measuring nasal cross-sectional areas in 10 subjects. Subjects were measured under three conditions: with a Breathe Right nasal strip in place, with a sham strip in place, and with no strip in place. Two sets of three measurements were taken 1 week apart. The intrasession reliability both with and without the Breathe Right strip was very good (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] [2,1]: 0.97 and 0.98, respectively). The intersession reliability with and without the Breathe Right strip was not nearly as good (ICC [2,1]: 0.62 and 0.67). The Breathe Right strip increased the mean nasal cross-sectional area by 0.10 cm2 (17.4%). We conclude that acoustic rhinometry is a reliable way to measure nasal cross-sectional area during a single session of multiple tests, but it is not as reliable across sessions. We also determined that the Breathe Right nasal strip significantly increases nasal cross-sectional area.

Acoustics↗
PubMed2001

Reproducibility and reliability of measurements using a linear isokinetic dynamometer, Aristokin.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to investigate the intra-observer reproducibility and reliability of measurements using a linear isokinetic dynamometer (Aristokin). METHODS: Sixteen female volunteers (age 18 to 23 years) participated in 4 test sessions, each consisting of 6 warming-up movements followed by 6 repetitions of 4 different movements. During each session, the subjects consecutively performed lifting movements by flexing elbows and shoulders (at 65 cm per sec), total lifting movements with arms and legs (at 65 cm per sec), and extension movements of the legs in sitting position (at 40 and 60 cm per sec). The first 3 test sessions were performed at a weekly interval, the 4th was executed 4 weeks after the 3rd session. Force, power and explosivity (force developed per sec) were recorded. RESULTS: The intra-observer reproducibility was investigated of the 6 repetitions of the movements during each test session. The highest reproducibility for mean peak power and force was found in the combination of the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th measurement (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.85 to 0.99). Using this combination, the intra-observer reliability was investigated, defined as the consistency of results obtained during the 4 test sessions, performed at a weekly or longer interval. Comparison between these sessions showed that the results for mean force in the arm movement differed significantly (p=0.01) although a high between sessions correlation was found (0.96). Results for mean force and power for the 3 other movements were reliable, and no significant learning effect was observed. Lower reliability and reproducibility were observed for other parameters including explosivity and power and force at the first 0.25 sec of the test movement. CONCLUSIONS: Even after standard warming-up movements, the first 2 out of 6 measurement repetitions during a test session are not reproducible and should not be used in calculations of the results. For the combination of the 3rd to 6th repetitions, a high reliability was found for the measurement of mean force and power of the total lifting movement and of the sitting leg extension movements repeated in 4 sessions over a period of 6 weeks.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Reliability of nurses' neurological assessments in the cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in mental status are common among patients in the cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit. Changes in mental status can be caused by metabolic factors, medications, or brain injury. In this setting, reliable, serial neurological evaluations are critical for assessing the effectiveness of treatment and the need for additional studies. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the reliability of the Rancho Los Amigos Cognitive Scale and the newly developed Neurologic Intensive Care Evaluation as measures of cognitive function in the cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit. METHODS: Nurses used 1 of the 2 scales as part of routine neurological assessments of patients in the cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit. For each test, scores of different observers were correlated and a reliability estimate formed. RESULTS: Interrater reliability was high for both evaluations (Rancho scale, 0.91; Neurologic Intensive Care Evaluation, 0.94). Correlations between the scores of different pairs of observers were also high (mean rho values, 0.84 for the Rancho scale and 0.77 for the Neurologic Intensive Care Evaluation). CONCLUSIONS: Both scales are reliable indicators of the neurological state of patients in the cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit. These scales measure different, although limited, aspects of cognitive function. Each test was simple to administer and did not take more time than the standard nursing neurological examination. Most of the variability in scoring was related to the different degrees of stimulation used by examiners when assessing patients, not to differences in the interpretation of patients' responses.

Cognition↗
PubMed2001

G theory and the reliability of psychophysiological measures: a tutorial.

For some years, the limits of classic reliability theory have been recognized in favor of the Generalizability Theory, which deals simultaneously with multiple sources of error. This measurement model can be particularly useful when applied to research in cognitive psychophysiology. Indeed, studies in this field often deal with estimated measures whose reliability is rarely taken into account. In this paper, we report two generalizability studies in order to investigate the usefulness of G theory in providing information about the reliability of experimental results. The first was carried out on P300 measured during an oddball task, and the second was carried out on ERPs recorded during a recognition memory task. As expected, results showed that P300 modulation was more reliable than ERP memory modulation. This suggests that G theory can be a useful tool to estimate the reliability of psychophysiological findings, complementing and extending results from conventional analyses.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed2001

Reliability of radiological parameters measured on anteroposterior pelvis radiographs of patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip.

In order to evaluate the reliability of radiological parameters, we retrospectively reviewed the anteroposterior pelvic x-rays of 30 hips in 15 patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip. The following parameters were studied: acetabular index, center-edge angle, c/b ratio, Sharp's angle and teardrop figure. Each of the two authors measured the parameters twice on two separate days. Statistical assessment of the interobserver and intraobserver reliability was performed. The measurements of acetabular index and c/b ratio were reliable according to both intra- and interobserver reliability analysis, whereas center-edge angle, teardrop figure and Sharp's angle evaluations were reliable in the intraobserver comparisons but not in the interobserver comparisons. In conclusion, both acetabular index and c/b ratio may be used safely in the evaluation of developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2001

Validity and reliability of a medicine ball explosive power test.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of a medicine ball throw test to assess explosive power. Twenty competitive sand volleyball players (10 male players, 10 female players) performed a medicine ball throw and a standard countermovement vertical jump. The subjects attended 2 sessions; at each session, 3 attempts of each test were completed. The movement pattern for the medicine ball throw was a backward overhead toss. To standardize for body weight, a power index was calculated for the countermovement vertical jump using the Lewis formula. Validity was assessed using the best score for both the throw and the jump, and reliability was assessed using the best score from each session. There was a strong correlation between the distance of the medicine ball throw and the power index for the countermovement vertical jump (r = 0.906, p < 0.01). For the countermovement vertical jump, the test-retest reliability was 0.993 (p < 0.01), and for the medicine ball throw, the test-retest reliability was 0.996 (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that the medicine ball throw test is a valid and reliable test for assessing explosive power for an analogous total-body movement pattern and general athletic ability.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Interobserver reliability in the interpretation of radiologic signs in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

An accurate interpretation of radiographs is crucial in determining therapeutic choices in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. The aim of this study was to measure the interobserver reliability of a group of surgeons in this condition. Twenty-three radiographs were shown to nine pediatric orthopedic surgeons at nine different medical centers. Differences in coding between members of the group was assessed using a two-way random factor analysis of variance. Reliability was excellent for the Catterall classification [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.94], and good for the stage of disease and Head at Risk signs (ICC ranging from 0.74 to 0.85) except for lateral subluxation, whose reliability is fair (ICC = 0.68). Analysis of results shows that lateral subluxation should be expressed in a quantitative measurement rather than a binary answer. The reliability of Gage's sign would be improved if multiple definitions did not exist in the literature. In experienced hands, Catterall's classification can be used with reliability. Difficulties are still noted in separating group II frorm group III.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Tracking reliability for space cabin-borne equipment in development by Crow model.

Objective. To study and track the reliability growth of manned spaceflight cabin-borne equipment in the course of its development. Method. A new technique of reliability growth estimation and prediction, which is composed of the Crow model and test data conversion (TDC) method was used. Result. The estimation and prediction value of the reliability growth conformed to its expectations. Conclusion. The method could dynamically estimate and predict the reliability of the equipment by making full use of various test information in the course of its development. It offered not only a possibility of tracking the equipment reliability growth, but also the reference for quality control in manned spaceflight cabin-borne equipment design and development process.

Equipment Design↗