Repeatability of the 6-min walk test in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis

Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) is a chronic lung disease characterized by progressive and irreversible changes of the bronchial tree. The evaluation of exercise capacity is essential to manage this disease. This study aims to determine the within-subject repeatability of two Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT) in adults with NCFB. NCFB. This cross-sectional observational study included 66 NCFB subjects above 18 years-old (mean of 55 ± 17 years old, 68% women). 73% of the participants presented moderate to severe clinical condition classified by Bronchiectasis Severity Index. It showed that these participants walked 16.6 m less (95%CI 3.8 to 29.4; p < 0.01) in the second 6MWT when compared to the first test, with a within-subject coefficient variation of 9.4% (95%CI 7.2–11.2%) and an intra-test reliability with a high intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.88 (95%CI 0.80–0.93). Bland–Altman plot showed an agreement regarding test repeatability, besides presented a large limit of agreement (− 85 to 116 m). Respiratory rate and systolic blood pressure were significantly higher before starting the second test. In conclusion, 6MWT seems to be reproducible in NCFB subjects and vital sign verification should be attentively checked to assess if the patient is fully recovered to perform a second test, as well as the disease severity score. Other studies on this matter should be conducted with a larger number of participants to confirm the findings of the present study.

Repeatability and reproducibility of corneal biomechanical parameters derived from Corvis ST

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate repeatability and reproducibility of newly calculated biomechanical parameters of the cornea, developed by our research group. Methods: One eye from each of the 23 healthy subjects was measured three times consecutively, three times at different daytimes and on three different days. The within-subject standard deviation and coefficient of variation, as well as the intraclass correlation coefficient, were calculated for every parameter in each group. Results: Excellent repeatability and reproducibility (coefficient of variation < 5%, intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.75) was found for corrected values measured at A1, HC, and A2 time points (2nd A2 Time, 2nd A1 Time, 2nd HC Time, 2nd HC Def Amp and 2nd A1 Def Amp). Corneal-specific stiffness parameters, which showed good repeatability and reliability, were DA_cor (coefficient of variation = 4.02%, intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.919), KcLinear (coefficient of variation = 4.03%, intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.895), areaForceCornea (coefficient of variation = 3.34%, intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.853) and E2 (coefficient of variation = 4.1%, intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.78). Overall, most parameters fell into the category of good reliability (high intraclass correlation coefficient) and poor reproducibility (low coefficient of variation), including all the parameters describing extraocular deformation (DA_ext, AEPvED, AUC EDef, areaForceExtra, Kg and μg). Comparing the coefficient of variation values for intrasession, intersession and daytime measurements, there were no indices for diurnal changes. Conclusion: Most parameters showed good repeatability and reliability. The extraocular stiffness parameters showed poor reproducibility. KcLinear can serve as a very reliable and repeatable indicator of corneal stiffness.

Reproducibility of Heart Rate Variability Threshold in Untrained Individuals

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of the heart rate variability threshold (HRVT) by different HRV indexes and determination criteria. 68 untrained participants, 17 women (24.09±4.91 years old; 21.54±1.97 kg∙m−2) and 51 men (24.52±3.52 years old; 26.51±6.31 kg∙m−2), were evaluated on 2 different days (test and retest). The HRVT was determined during an incremental exercise test using 2 indexes (SD1 and RMSSD) and criteria (HRTV1, first intensity of physical effort with index<3 ms, and HRVT2, first intensity of physical effort, in which the index presents a difference<1 ms between 2 consecutive intensities). There was no significant difference (p<0.05) between the test and retest for any of the variables evaluated. All variables, except for the rate of perceived exertion at HRVT2, presented moderate to high intraclass correlation coefficient (HRVT1: 0.55–0.85 and HRVT2:0.58–0.69). All variables at HRVT1 and the heart rate at HRVT2 showed coefficient of variation ~ 10%. The HRVT, regardless of criteria and HRV index used, showed satisfactory reproducibility. Thus, these criteria can be used to assess clinically autonomic cardiac modulation and aerobic capacity, and to analyze the effect of different interventions.

Reliability and convergent validity of the Emotional Intelligence Admission Essay Scale, revised

Introduction The purpose of this study was to reassess the reliability and convergent validity of the revised Emotional Intelligence Admission Essay Scale, and determine whether the scale could identify students demonstrating professional behavior problems in the classroom and fieldwork environments. Method Thirty-six student participants completed the revised Emotional Intelligence Admission Essay Scale and Schutte Assessing Emotions Scale. Interrater reliability, internal consistency, and convergent validity were established. Results Interrater reliability and internal consistency were found to be high (intraclass correlation coefficient = .82, p < .001; Cronbach’s alpha = .96, p < .001, respectively). When participants were separated by age, convergent validity between the Emotional Intelligence Admission Essay Scale and Schutte Assessing Emotions Scale of participants aged ≥ 26 years was high ( rs = .83, p < .002) compared to those ≤ 25 years ( rs = .58, p < .002). Six participants (16.6%) received Emotional Intelligence Admission Essay Scale scores of 0 and were identified as potentially exhibiting professional behavioral problems; three of these students demonstrated professional behavior problems in the academic and/or fieldwork settings. Conclusion The Emotional Intelligence Admission Essay Scale can be used as a screen to identify whether students may exhibit professional behavior problems; however, caution should be used as some identified students may be able to prevent professional behavior problems once aware of program expectations.

Development and Psychometric Properties of the Standardized Assessment of Severity of Personality Disorder (SASPD)

Personality disorder (PD) is increasingly categorized according to its severity, but there is no simple way to screen for severity according to ICD-11 criteria. We set out to develop the Standardized Assessment of Severity of Personality Disorder (SASPD). A total of 110 patients completed the SASPD together with a clinical assessment of the severity of personality disorder. We examined the predictive ability of the SASPD using the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Two to four weeks later, 43 patients repeated the SASPD to examine reliability. The SASPD had good predictive ability for determining mild (AUC = 0.86) and moderate (AUC = 0.84) PD at cut points of 8 and 10, respectively. Test-retest reliability of the SASPD was high (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.93, 95% CI [0.88, 0.96]). The SASPD thus provides a simple, brief, and reliable indicator of the presence of mild or moderate PD according to ICD-11 criteria.

Screening for Language Disorders in Stroke: German Validation of the Language Screening Test (LAST)

Background: Screening of aphasia in acute stroke is crucial for directing patients to early language therapy. The Language Screening Test (LAST), originally developed in French, is a validated language screening test that allows detection of a language deficit within a few minutes. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate two parallel German versions of the LAST. Methods: The LAST includes subtests for naming, repetition, automatic speech, and comprehension. For the translation into German, task constructs and psycholinguistic criteria for item selection were identical to the French LAST. A cohort of 101 stroke patients were tested, all of whom were native German speakers. Validation of the LAST was based on (1) analysis of equivalence of the German versions, which was established by administering both versions successively in a subset of patients, (2) internal validity by means of internal consistency analysis, and (3) external validity by comparison with the short version of the Token Test in another subset of patients. Results: The two German versions were equivalent as demonstrated by a high intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.91. Furthermore, an acceptable internal structure of the LAST was found (Cronbach's α = 0.74). A highly significant correlation (r = 0.74, p < 0.0001) between the LAST and the short version of the Token Test indicated good external validity of the scale. Conclusion: The German version of the LAST, available in two parallel versions, is a new and valid language screening test in stroke.

Clinical Assessment of Ankle Joint Dorsiflexion

Ankle dorsiflexion measurement is important for clinical and research use. With so much evidence on the unreliability of goniometric measurements, a systematic review was performed to investigate various alternative techniques for measuring ankle dorsiflexion in the nonneurologic patient. All of the major databases were queried electronically to identify studies that used any method of ankle dorsiflexion measurement in the nonneurologic subject. Keywords included ankle dorsiflexion NOT cerebral palsy NOT stroke, the latter to exclude neurologic conditions. In 755 studies that used some form of ankle joint dorsiflexion measurement, ten different techniques were identified that included various apparatuses designed specifically for this purpose. Reliability testing of these techniques involved test-retest trials with small student populations as subjects, which returned high intraclass correlation coefficient scores. However, their methodological quality would have benefitted from the use of an actual patient population and comparison with a reference standard. When validating ankle dorsiflexion measurement techniques, actual patient populations should be used, otherwise papers would score poorly on methodological quality assessment. Standardizing patient position, foot posture, amount of moment applied, and reference landmarks will ensure that various trial results can be compared directly. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 101(1): 59–69, 2011)

Reliability and Validity of the Five-Minute Walking Field Test for Estimating V˙O2 peak in Elderly Subjects with Knee Osteoarthritis

The purposes of the present study were (a) to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the Price et al. (1988) 5-min walking field test, (b) to assess the validity of the test as an estimate of aerobic fitness, and (c) to derive a predictive model for estimating peak. The subjects were men and women age ≥50 with knee osteoarthritis. A high intraclass correlation coefficient was obtained in the reliability study, which included 60 subjects who did the 5-min walk twice within a maximum of 11 days. For the validity study, distances walked at the first walking trial were compared with peak values measured by a maximal treadmill test. The best predictive model included the following predictor variables: distance walked in 5 min, age, sex, and weight. Results indicate that the 5-minutc walking field test is a reliable and valid method for estimating peak in this population.