PROTOCOL FOR VERIFYING EXPERTISE IN LOCATING FIBROMYALGIA TENDER POINTS

Citation
Mj. Mcintosh et al., PROTOCOL FOR VERIFYING EXPERTISE IN LOCATING FIBROMYALGIA TENDER POINTS, Arthritis care and research, 11(3), 1998, pp. 210-216
Citations number
13
Categorie Soggetti
Rheumatology,Rehabilitation
Journal title
ISSN journal
08937524
Volume
11
Issue
3
Year of publication
1998
Pages
210 - 216
Database
ISI
SICI code
0893-7524(1998)11:3<210:PFVEIL>2.0.ZU;2-N
Abstract
Objective. To develop a protocol for determining when an individual is adequately trained to locate the ten der points relative to fibromyal gia in an exam. Methods. The error distance for each tender point was established by polling individuals with experience in conducting tende r point exams. Bayesian statistical methods were employed to form a pr otocol for defer mining an individual's proficiency in locating the te nder points. A predictive distribution was utilized to find the probab ility of remaining trained at locating tender points. Also, the probab ility of classifying at least 11 tender points as tender (mild) under different ''locating'' criteria and different number of points that ar e truly tender was computed. Results. Critical values indicating the n umber of tender points needed in the qualification process for various standards of reliability-80%, 85%, and 90%-are presented. To be certi fied after 3 subjects have been examined in the 80%, 85%, and 90% crit eria, one has to correctly identify 48, 50, and 52, respectively, out of the 54 possible tender points. Conclusion. We believe that at least 3 subjects should be examined before certification is granted using a ny of the 3 criteria-80%, 85%, and 90%. In our example, when using the 85% criterion, the qualification process required 7 subjects to certi fy an individual.