Interobserver agreement on normal swallowing physiology as viewed by videoendoscopy

This study examines the agreement of 2 observers in identifying selected no rmal oropharyngeal swallow events in the 1- and 5-ml swallows of 3 normal y oung adult males as identified by videoendoscopy at each of two endoscopic positions: (1) with the tip of the endoscope just at or below the tip of th e uvula (high position), and (2) with the tip of the endoscope just below t he tip of the epiglottis (low position), and thereby defines the needed foc us for observer training in endoscopic assessment of swallowing. Overall, t he more and less experienced examiners agreed on seeing or not seeing the o nsets and terminations of the 12 events 83% of the time. Scope position aff ected observer agreement on several events while bolus volume did not.