We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Interrater reliability of diagnosing complex regional pain syndrome type I.
- Authors
Perez, R. S. G. M; Burm, P. E. T; Zuurmond, W. W. A; Giezeman, M. J. M. M; van Dasselaar, N. T; Vranken, J; de Lange, J. J
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>Diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) is based on clinical observation of symptoms. As little information is available on the reliability of CRPS I diagnosis, we evaluated the agreement between therapists with regard to the presence and severity of CRPS I and its symptoms.<bold>Methods: </bold>The interrater reliability was evaluated in 37 presumed CRPS I patients by three observers; one consultant anesthesiologist and two resident anesthesiologists. Patients were assessed on the basis of Veldman's CRPS criteria.<bold>Results: </bold>The interrater reliability for diagnosing CRPS I was good for the majority of observer combinations. The percentage of agreement for the absence or presence of CRPS I was good (88%-100%). Cohen's Kappa's ranged from 0.60 to 0.86. The agreement for the mean symptom score ranged from 70.2% to 88.6%; Kappa's were lower and showed more variation. Interrater reliability for assessment of the severity of CRPS I and its symptoms was poor. Factors influencing the interrater reliability were symptom type, individual observers and sample population.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Diagnosing CRPS I can be performed on the basis of clinical observation. Further assessment of severity of CRPS I and its symptoms should be performed with reliable and valid measurement instruments.
- Subjects
SYNDROMES; DIAGNOSIS
- Publication
Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, 2002, Vol 46, Issue 4, p447
- ISSN
0001-5172
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1034/j.1399-6576.2002.460420.x