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Multicenter trial of the proficiency of smart quantitative sensation tests
Author(s) -
Dyck Peter J.,
Argyros Barbara,
Russell James W.,
Gahnstrom Linde E.,
Nalepa Susan,
Albers James W.,
Lodermeier Karen A.,
Zafft Andrew J.,
Dyck P. James B.,
Klein Christopher J.,
Litchy William J.,
Davies Jenny L.,
Carter Rickey E.,
Melton L. Joseph
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.23982
Subject(s) - sensation , medicine , intraclass correlation , polyneuropathy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , reproducibility , physical therapy , surgery , psychometrics , psychology , mathematics , clinical psychology , statistics , neuroscience
ABSTRACT Introduction : We assessed proficiency (accuracy and intra‐ and intertest reproducibility) of smart quantitative sensation tests (smart QSTs) in subjects without and with diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSPN). Methods : Technologists from 3 medical centers using different but identical QSTs independently assessed 6 modalities of sensation of the foot (or leg) twice in patients without ( n = 6) and with ( n = 6) DSPN using smart computer assisted QSTs. Results : Low rates of test abnormalities were observed in health and high rates in DSPN. Very high intraclass correlations were obtained between continuous measures of QSTs and neuropathy signs, symptoms, or nerve conductions (NCs). No significant intra‐ or intertest differences were observed. Conclusions : These results provide proof of concept that smart QSTs provide accurate assessment of sensation loss without intra‐ or intertest differences useful for multicenter trials. Smart technology makes possible efficient testing of body surface area sensation loss in symmetric length‐dependent sensorimotor polyneuropathies. Muscle Nerve 49 : 645–653, 2014