A trial of proficiency of nerve conduction: Greater standardization still needed
- 27 December 2012
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Muscle & Nerve
- Vol. 48 (3), 369-374
- https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.23765
Abstract
Introduction The aim of this study was to test the proficiency (accuracy among evaluators) of measured attributes of nerve conduction (NC). Methods Expert clinical neurophysiologists, without instruction or consensus development, from 4 different medical centers, independently assessed 8 attributes of NC in 24 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) on consecutive days. Results No significant intraobserver differences between days 1 and 2 were found, but significant interobserver differences were seen. Use of standard reference values did not correct for these observed differences. Conclusions Interobserver variability was attributed to differences in performance of NC. It was of sufficient magnitude that it is of concern for the conduct of therapeutic trials. To deal with interrater variability in therapeutic trials, the same electromyographers should perform all NC assessments of individual patients or, preferably, NC procedures should be more standardized. A further trial is needed to test whether such standardization would eliminate interobserver variability. Muscle Nerve 48: 369–374, 2013This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Efficacy and Safety of Antioxidant Treatment With α-Lipoic Acid Over 4 Years in Diabetic PolyneuropathyDiabetes Care, 2011
- Modeling nerve conduction criteria for diagnosis of diabetic polyneuropathyMuscle & Nerve, 2011
- Diabetic Neuropathies: Update on Definitions, Diagnostic Criteria, Estimation of Severity, and TreatmentsDiabetes Care, 2010
- Signs and symptoms versus nerve conduction studies to diagnose diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy: Cl vs. NPhys trialMuscle & Nerve, 2010
- Challenges in Design of Multicenter TrialsDiabetes Care, 2007
- Modeling Chronic Glycemic Exposure Variables as Correlates and Predictors of Microvascular Complications of DiabetesDiabetes Care, 2006
- Procedures for setting normal valuesNeurology, 1995
- Reproducibility of Parameters for Assessment of Diabetic NeuropathyDiabetic Medicine, 1993
- Inter‐ and intra‐examiner reliability of nerve conduction measurements in normal subjectsAnnals of Neurology, 1991
- Serial ulnar nerve conduction velocity measurements in normal subjects.Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 1969