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Interpretation of subjective symptoms in double‐blind placebo‐controlled food challenges – interobserver reliability
Author(s) -
Gellerstedt M.,
Magnusson J.,
Gråjö U.,
Ahlstedt S.,
Bengtsson U.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2003.00437.x
Subject(s) - reliability (semiconductor) , false positive paradox , medical diagnosis , medicine , placebo , radiology , artificial intelligence , alternative medicine , pathology , computer science , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
Background: Subjective symptoms after food challenges are difficult to interpret and no standard is available. We discuss a strategy for how to interpret a diary. Furthermore, the interobserver reliability is evaluated. Methods: Diaries for 32 patients with subjective symptoms were used. The diaries were re‐evaluated with a predefined strategy by three independent observers. Results: The proportion of positives was 21.9% among the old diagnoses, according to the new approach 34.4% (observers I and II) and 37.5% (observer III) were positive. The new approach had high interobserver reliability (97 and 100%). Conclusions: The proportion of positives depends on how subjective symptoms are interpreted. Interpretations of subjective symptoms in diaries could be made with high interobserver reliability.