Peer Review #2 of "Instrumental validity and intra/inter-rater reliability of a novel low-cost digital pressure algometer (v0.3)"

Background Pain assessment is a key measure that accompanies treatments in a wide range of clinical settings. A low-cost valid and reliable pressure algometer would allow objective assessment of pressure pain to assist a variety of health professionals. However, the pressure algometer is often expensive, which limits its daily use in both clinical and research settings. Objectives This study aimed to assess the instrumental validity, and the intra- and inter-rater reliability of an inexpensive digital adapted pressure algometer. Methods A single rater applied 60 random compressions on a force platform. The pressure pain thresholds of 20 volunteers were collected twice (3 days apart) by two raters. The main outcome measurements were as follows: the maximal peak force (in kPa) and the pressure pain threshold (adapted pressure algometer vs. force platform). Cronbach’s α test was used to assess internal consistency. The standard error of measurement provided estimates of measurement error, and the measurement bias was estimated with the Bland–Altman method, with lower and upper limits of agreement. Results No differences were observed when comparing the compression results (P = 0.51). The validity and internal intra-rater consistencies ranged from 0.84 to 0.99, and the standard error of measurement from 0.005 to 0.04 kPa. Very strong (r = 0.73–0.74) to near-perfect (r = 0.99) correlations were found, with a low risk of bias for all measurements. The results demonstrated the validity and intra-rater reliability of the digitally adapted pressure algometer. Inter-rater reliability results were moderate (r = 0.55–0.60; Cronbach’s α = 0.71–0.75). Conclusion The adapted pressure algometer provide valid and reliable measurements of pressure pain threshold. The results support more widespread use of the pressure pain threshold method among clinicians.

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Peer Review #1 of "Low cost audiovisual playback and recording triggered by radio frequency identification using Raspberry Pi (v0.1)"

10.7287/peerj.877v0.1/reviews/1 ◽

2015 ◽

Author(s):

D Wilson

Keyword(s):

Radio Frequency ◽

Peer Review ◽

Radio Frequency Identification ◽

Low Cost ◽

Raspberry Pi ◽

Frequency Identification

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Multiple meta-assessment measures of a quality process: toward institutional effectiveness

Quality Assurance in Education ◽

10.1108/qae-08-2019-0080 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 123-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nhung Thi Tuyet Pham

Keyword(s):

Peer Review ◽

Institutional Effectiveness ◽

Participation Rate ◽

Rater Reliability ◽

Content Type ◽

Indirect Assessment ◽

Assessment Measures ◽

Assessment Survey ◽

Quality Process ◽

Assessment Results

Purpose The purpose of this study is to share quality process experience from a US comprehensive university to use both direct (participation rate and assessment quality) and indirect assessment measures (assessment survey) to evaluate the quality process. Design/methodology/approach A mixed method design was used to evaluate the quality process. The qualitative design used thematic analysis to find the common themes from the assessment survey. The quantitative design included reliability and internal consistency for the survey and inter-rater reliability for the peer review. Findings Findings indicated that participation rate and assessment quality improved over the years. Faculty provided positive feedback about assessment website, the peer review process and feedback but negative perspectives on the assessment management software and heavy workload on assessment activities. The researcher shared the actions made based on three-year assessment results, especially how leaders have used it to align with planning and budgeting to close the institutional effectiveness loop. Research limitations/implications This research had two limitations. The inter-rater reliability of the peer review was not high and the number of peer review reports in two years were so different, so the results could not be checked for statistical significance. Practical implications The meta-assessment results could have important implications for other universities to improve the quality process. Originality/value There have been limited studies on using both direct and indirect assessment measures to evaluate the quality process. This study uses multiple measures to provide accurate results for administrators’ decision-making in resource allocation.

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The impact of electronic publishing on the academic community

European Review ◽

10.1017/s1062798700003057 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 97-102 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ian Butterworth

Keyword(s):

Peer Review ◽

Electronic Publishing ◽

Low Cost ◽

Rapid Change ◽

Optical Storage ◽

Academic Community ◽

Physical Sciences ◽

Essential Requirement ◽

Software And Hardware ◽

The Impact

Electronic publishing has many advantages, including speed, low cost and searchability. It has made most progress in the physical sciences. Peer review remains an essential requirement. The dominance of English should be countered by the use of extended character sets. The preservation of electronic data is a great challenge due to the impermanence of magnetic and optical storage, but even more by the rapid change in both software and hardware.

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Decreased Pain Threshold in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Cross-sectional Study

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.120793 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 40 (7) ◽

pp. 1212-1217 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Anne Leegaard ◽

Johanne Jeppesen Lomholt ◽

Mikael Thastum ◽

Troels Herlin

Keyword(s):

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis ◽

Pain Threshold ◽

Pain Perception ◽

Negative Control ◽

Control Group ◽

Healthy Children ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age Related ◽

Digital Pressure ◽

Pressure Algometer

Objective.To examine the pain threshold in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) compared with healthy children by using a digital pressure algometer.Methods.Fifty-eight children with JIA born between 1995 and 2000 and 91 age-related healthy children participated in the study. We used a digital pressure algometer to measure the pain threshold on 17 symmetric, anatomically predefined joint-related or bone-related areas. All children were asked to rate their current pain on a Faces Pain Scale, and parents of children with JIA were asked to complete a parental revised version of the Child Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ-R). Clinical data were registered on children with JIA.Results.The pain threshold was significantly lower among children with JIA (total mean PT = 1.33 ± 0.69 kg/cm2) when compared with the healthy control group (total mean PT = 1.77 ± 0.67 kg/cm2). The same pattern was found in all areas measured, including negative control areas that are normally unaffected in JIA (p = 0.0001 to 0.005). Overall, the pain threshold was 34% lower in females than in males in both groups (p < 0.0001). We found no correlation between pain threshold and age, current pain experience, disease duration, or disease activity.Conclusion.Children with JIA had a substantially lower pain threshold even in areas usually unaffected by arthritis. Our findings suggest that JIA alters the pain perception and causes decreased pain threshold.

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Intra- and inter-rater reliability of joint range of motion tests using tape measure, digital inclinometer and inertial motion capturing

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0243646 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (12) ◽

pp. e0243646

Author(s):

Laura Fraeulin ◽

Fabian Holzgreve ◽

Mark Brinkbäumer ◽

Anna Dziuba ◽

David Friebe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Range Of Motion ◽

Low Cost ◽

Inertial Motion ◽

Rater Reliability ◽

Warm Up ◽

Joint Range Of Motion ◽

Tape Measure ◽

Digital Inclinometer ◽

The Right ◽

Joint Range

Background In clinical practice range of motion (RoM) is usually assessed with low-cost devices such as a tape measure (TM) or a digital inclinometer (DI). However, the intra- and inter-rater reliability of typical RoM tests differ, which impairs the evaluation of therapy progress. More objective and reliable kinematic data can be obtained with the inertial motion capture system (IMC) by Xsens. The aim of this study was to obtain the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the TM, DI and IMC methods in five RoM tests: modified Thomas test (DI), shoulder test modified after Janda (DI), retroflexion of the trunk modified after Janda (DI), lateral inclination (TM) and fingertip-to-floor test (TM). Methods Two raters executed the RoM tests (TM or DI) in a randomized order on 22 healthy individuals while, simultaneously, the IMC data (Xsens MVN) was collected. After 15 warm-up repetitions, each rater recorded five measurements. Findings Intra-rater reliabilities were (almost) perfect for tests in all three devices (ICCs 0.886–0.996). Inter-rater reliability was substantial to (almost) perfect in the DI (ICCs 0.71–0.87) and the IMC methods (ICCs 0.61–0.993) and (almost) perfect in the TM methods (ICCs 0.923–0.961). The measurement error (ME) for the tests measured in degree (°) was 0.9–3.3° for the DI methods and 0.5–1.2° for the IMC approaches. In the tests measured in centimeters the ME was 0.5–1.3cm for the TM methods and 0.6–2.7cm for the IMC methods. Pearson correlations between the results of the DI or the TM respectively with the IMC results were significant in all tests except for the shoulder test on the right body side (r = 0.41–0.81). Interpretation Measurement repetitions of either one or multiple trained raters can be considered reliable in all three devices.

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