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Proficiency of nerve conduction using standard methods and reference values (cl. NPhys Trial 4)
Author(s) -
Litchy William J.,
Albers James W.,
Wolfe James,
Bolton Charles F.,
Walsh Nancy,
Klein Christopher J.,
Zafft Andrew J.,
Russell James W.,
Zwirlein Melanie,
Overland Carol J.,
Davies Jenny L.,
Carter Rickey E.,
Dyck Peter J.
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.24243
Subject(s) - abnormality , percentile , medicine , reference values , categorization , nuclear medicine , physical therapy , statistics , mathematics , artificial intelligence , computer science , psychiatry
The Cl. NPhys Trial 3 showed that attributes of nerve conduction (NC) were without significant intraobserver differences, although there were significant interobserver differences. Methods : Trial 4 tested whether use of written instructions and pretrial agreement on techniques and use of standard reference values, diagnostic percentile values, or broader categorization of abnormality could reduce significant interobserver disagreement and improve agreement among clinical neurophysiologists. Results : The Trial 4 modifications markedly decreased, but did not eliminate, significant interobserver differences of measured attributes of NC. Use of standard reference values and defined percentile values of abnormality decreased interobserver disagreement and improved agreement of judgment of abnormality among evaluators. Therefore, the same clinical neurophysiologist should perform repeat NCs of therapeutic trial patients. Conclusions : Differences in interobserver judgment of abnormality decrease with use of common standard reference values and a defined percentile level of abnormality, providing a rationale for their use in therapeutic trials and medical practice. Muscle Nerve 50: 900–908, 2014