<p><strong>Syfte:</strong> Studiens syfte var att reliabilitetspröva stabiliteten för M-SES för patienter med långvarig smärta genom test-retest metoden. Syftet var även att undersöka samtidig validitet för M-SES, genom att utföra M-SES och SES mätt vid samma tillfälle.</p><p><strong>Metod:</strong> I studien undersöktes self-efficacy instrumentet M-SES på Uppsala Akademiska sjukhus, på avdelningarna för Smärtcentrum och Smärtrehabilitering. Frågeställningarna berörde vilken stabilitets reliabilitet mätt med test-retest som förelåg hos M-SES, samt vilken grad av samtidig validitet som förelåg för M-SES korrelerat med SES. Den slutliga undersökningsgruppen bestod i frågeställningen om stabilitets reliabilitet av 29 patienter (23 kvinnor, sex män), och i frågeställning om samtidig validitet av 22 patienter (17 kvinnor, fem män).</p><p><strong>Resultat: </strong>Vid prövning av stabilitets reliabilitet för M-SES visade resultatet en stark korrelation, med korrelationskoefficient 0,92 och p<0,05. Det förelåg även en god överrensstämmelse för test-retest undersökningen. Prövningen av samtidig validitet för M-SES visade en stark korrelation, med koefficienten 0,88 och p<0,05.</p><p><strong>Konklusion:</strong> Studiens resultat visade att det förelåg en stark stabilitets reliabilitet och samtidig validitet för M-SES för patienter med långvarig smärta. Då studien genomfördes med få deltagare bör resultatet tolkas med försiktighet.</p>

Syfte: Studiens syfte var att reliabilitetspröva stabiliteten för M-SES för patienter med långvarig smärta genom test-retest metoden. Syftet var även att undersöka samtidig validitet för M-SES, genom att utföra M-SES och SES mätt vid samma tillfälle. Metod: I studien undersöktes self-efficacy instrumentet M-SES på Uppsala Akademiska sjukhus, på avdelningarna för Smärtcentrum och Smärtrehabilitering. Frågeställningarna berörde vilken stabilitets reliabilitet mätt med test-retest som förelåg hos M-SES, samt vilken grad av samtidig validitet som förelåg för M-SES korrelerat med SES. Den slutliga undersökningsgruppen bestod i frågeställningen om stabilitets reliabilitet av 29 patienter (23 kvinnor, sex män), och i frågeställning om samtidig validitet av 22 patienter (17 kvinnor, fem män). Resultat: Vid prövning av stabilitets reliabilitet för M-SES visade resultatet en stark korrelation, med korrelationskoefficient 0,92 och p&lt;0,05. Det förelåg även en god överrensstämmelse för test-retest undersökningen. Prövningen av samtidig validitet för M-SES visade en stark korrelation, med koefficienten 0,88 och p&lt;0,05. Konklusion: Studiens resultat visade att det förelåg en stark stabilitets reliabilitet och samtidig validitet för M-SES för patienter med långvarig smärta. Då studien genomfördes med få deltagare bör resultatet tolkas med försiktighet.

The need for hearing health care services across the world far outweighs the capacity to deliver these services with the present shortage of hearing health care personnel. Automated test procedures coupled with telemedicine may assist in extending services. Automated threshold audiometry has existed for many decades; however, there has been a lack of systematic evidence supporting its clinical use. The aim of this study was to systematically review the current body of peer-reviewed publications on the validity (test-retest reliability and accuracy) of automated threshold audiometry. A meta-analysis was thereafter conducted to combine and quantify the results of individual reports so that an overall assessment of validity based on existing evidence could be made for automated threshold audiometry. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis was conducted using peerreviewed publications. A multifaceted approach, covering several databases and employing different search strategies, was utilized to ensure comprehensive coverage and crosschecking of search findings. Publications were obtained using the following three databases: Medline, SCOPUS and PubMed, and by inspecting the reference list of relevant reports. Reports were selected based according to inclusion and an exclusion criterion, thereafter data extraction was conducted. Subsequently, the meta-analysis combined and quantified data to determine the validity of automated threshold audiometry. In total, 29 articles met the inclusion criteria. The outcomes from these studies indicated that two types of automated threshold testing procedures have been utilized, the ‘method of limits’ and ‘method of adjustments’. Reported findings suggest accurate and reliable thresholds when utilizing automated audiometry. Most of the reports included data on adult populations using air conduction testing, limited data on children, bone conduction testing and the effects of hearing status on automated threshold testing were however reported. The meta-analysis revealed that test-retest reliability for automated threshold audiometry was within typical testretest reliability for manual audiometry. Furthermore, the meta-analysis showed comparable overall average differences between manual and automated air conduction audiometry (0.4 dB, 6.1 SD) compared to test-retest differences for manual (1.3 dB, 6.1 SD) and automated (0.3 dB, 6.9 SD) air conduction audiometry. Overall, no significant differences (p>0.01; Summarized Data ANOVA) were obtained in any of the comparisons between test-retest reliability (manual and automated) and accuracy. Current evidence demonstrates that automated threshold audiometry can produce an accurate measure of hearing threshold. The differences between automated and manual audiometry fall within typical test-retest and inter-tester variability. Despite its long history however, validation is still limited for (i) automated bone conduction audiometry; (ii) automated audiometry in children and difficult-to-test populations and; (iii) automated audiometry with different types and degrees of hearing loss. / Dissertation (MCommunication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / gm2014 / Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology / unrestricted

No / Objective To assess the learning effect, test–retest reliability and measurement error associated with the SEBT. Design Repeated-measures study. Setting Controlled university laboratory environment. Participants Twenty-two healthy recreational athletes (11 male age 22.3 ± 3.7 years, 11 female age 22.8 ± 3.1 years). Main Outcome Measures Repeated-measures ANOVA assessed learning affects. Intraclass correlations coefficients, standard error of measurement and smallest detectable difference values were calculated to assess reliability and measurement error. Results Results showed that excursion distances stabilised after four trials, therefore trials five to seven were analysed for reliability. Test–retest reliability for all reach directions was high, with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.84 to 0.92. 95% confidence intervals, standard error of measurement and smallest detectable difference ranged from 77.84 to 94.00, 2.21–2.94% and 6.13–8.15%, respectively. Conclusion These statistics will allow clinicians to evaluate whether changes in SEBT scores are due to change in an individual’s performance or random error. The findings of this study show that the SEBT is a reliable measure of lower limb function in healthy recreational athletes. Changes in normalised scores of at least 6–8% are needed to feel confident that a real change in SEBT performance has occurred.

Abstract Introduction In order to evaluate aerobic, power and strength abilities coaches typically has performed all the physical tests at the same testing session. Today there is a lack of instruments tested for reliability in that kind of setting. Aim The purpose of this study was to investigate intra-session reliability for countermovement jump (CMJ) and Isometric Midthigh Pull (IMTP) after a fatiguing cycle-ergometer VO2-maxtest. Method: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional study design where 25 Swedish elite athletes, 11 women (age 26.9 ± 8.3 year, weight 63.3 ± 7.4 kg, length 169.8 ± 7.4 cm and BMI 21.9 ± 1.4) and 14 men (age 23.4 ± 2.9 year, weight 77.9 ± 12.4 kg, length 179.0 ± 8.3 cm and BMI 24.2 ± 2.0), from different sports were recruited through a stratified comfort selection from the initial survey study within the project: Relative Energy Deficit in Swedish Athletes (the REI-project). The study-participants performed physical testing in one test session, the test-protocol consisted of a incremental VO2-max cycle-ergometer test to fatigue followed by 3 attempts CMJ and 3 attempts IMTP. Results The relative reliability was excellent for both CMJ and IMTP (Intraclass correlation (ICC) 0,948 and 0,983 respectively), not surprisingly due to the heterogeneous population.  The absolute reliability was excellent as well (percentage of typical Error (TE%) 5,84 and 4,02, percentage of coefficient of variation (CV%) 6,81 and 7,63 respectively). Conclusion The CMJ and IMTP are intra-session reliable in measuring jump hight and isometric strength in a state of fatigue. / Abstrakt Introduktion I syfte att utvärdera såväl aerob kapacitet, spänst och styrka utför tränare ofta dessa fysiska tester vid ett och samma testtillfälle. Idag saknas det testinstrument som reliabilitetstestats i en sådan kontext.Syfte Avsikten med denna studie var att undersöka intra-session reliabiliteten i Countermovement Jump (CMJ) och Isometriskt Mid Thigh Pull (IMTP) utförda efter ett utmattande cykelergometertest för VO2-max. Metod En kvantitativ, deskriptiv, tvärsnittsstudie valdes där 25 svenska elitidrottare, 11 kvinnor (ålder 26.9 ± 8.3 år, vikt 63.3 ± 7.4 kg, längd 169.8 ± 7.4 cm and BMI 21.9 ± 1.4) och 14 män (ålder 23.4 ± 2.9 år, vikt 77.9 ± 12.4 kg, längd 179.0 ± 8.3 cm and BMI 24.2 ± 2.0), inom olika idrotter rekryterades genom ett stratifierat bekvämlighetsurval från projektet Relativ energibrist i svensk idrott (REI-projektet) initiala enkätstudie. Forskningspersonerna utförde fysiska tester vid ett tillfälle, testprotokollet bestod av ett stegrat VO2-max cykelergometertest till utmattning följt av 3 maximala försök CMJ och 3 maximala försök IMTP. Resultat Relativ reliabilitet visades utmärkt för både CMJ och IMTP (intraclass correlation (ICC) 0,948 respektive 0,983), vilket inte var förvånande med tanke på den heterogena populationen. Absolut reliabilitet visades även den vara utmärkt (typfel uttryckt i procent (TE%) 5,84 respektive 4,02 och variationskoefficient uttryckt i procent (CV%) 6,81 respektive 7,63). Slutsats CMJ och IMTP är reliabla testinstrument, intra-session, för mätning av hopphöjd och isometrisk styrka i ett utmattat tillstånd. / Projekt: Relativ energibrist i svensk idrott (REI-projektet)

Aim: To investigate the reliability of the COntext Assessment for Community Health (COACH) tool on mobile phone versus pen-paper in Nairobi, Kenya. Background: One of the barriers to the progress of the MDGs has been the failure of health systems in many LMICs to effectively implement evidence-based interventions As a result of the “know-do” gap, patients do not benefit from advances in healthcare and are exposed to unnecessary risks. Better mapping of context improves implementation by allowing tailoring of strategies and interpretation of knowledge translation. COACH investigates healthcare contexts for LMICs and has only been used on pen-paper. With 5 billion mobile phone users globally, mobile technologies is being recognized as able to play a formal role in health services. Methods: Comparative study with 140 nurses/midwives and doctors in four hospitals in Nairobi. 70 were randomly assigned to mobile phone and pen-paper each. The tool was administered twice with a two week interval and test-retest reliability, internal consistency and interrater reliability were assessed. Findings: Excellent test-retest reliability for both pen-paper and mobile phone (ICC &gt;0.81). 45% (pen-paper) and 34% (mobile phone) moderate agreement between individual questions in round 1 and 2. Acceptable average Cronbach’s alpha (&gt;0.70). Conclusion: Both mobile phone and pen-paper were reliable and feasible for data collection. The findings are a good first step towards using COACH in Kenya. Additional research is needed for individual settings. Using mobile phones could increase healthcare facilities’ accessibility in implementation research, helping to close the “know-do” gap and reach the SDGs.

Un grand défi des cliniciens dans le domaine des commotions cérébrales est de déterminer le moment où l’athlète est prêt à retourner au jeu. Pour guider cette décision, plusieurs ont recours à l’évaluation cognitive pour accompagner l’évaluation des symptômes de l’athlète. Toutefois, plusieurs études appuient la nécessité de développer des tâches cognitives plus raffinées avec des propriétés psychométriques adéquates. Par ailleurs, une étude récente montre que des déficits cognitifs sont exacerbés par l’exercice physique chez 27,7 % des athlètes ayant reçu l’autorisation médicale de retourner au jeu et montrant des résultats normaux à l’état de repos, suggérant une récupération incomplète. Le but de cette thèse consiste en l’élaboration d’un outil, valide et accessible, pour évaluer la disposition d’un athlète à retourner au jeu à la suite d’une commotion, ainsi que pour évaluer les déficits à long terme (c.-à-d., plus de six mois) associés à la blessure. Cet outil comprend un protocole d’exercice standardisé (20 minutes à 80 % de la fréquence maximale théorique sur vélo) et une tâche cognitive, appelée la tâche d’alternance. Dans l’article I, nous avons examiné les propriétés psychométriques de la tâche cognitive. Les résultats suggèrent que la tâche d’alternance est une mesure valide des fonctions exécutives et montre une bonne fidélité test-retest. Ils indiquent aussi que les coûts d’alternance, traditionnellement calculés pour isoler les différentes composantes des fonctions exécutives, ne montrent pas d’aussi bonnes propriétés psychométriques que les variables primaires (vitesse de réaction, précision des réponses et score d’efficacité inverse). Dans l’article II, nous avons mesuré l’effet de pratique associé à la passation répétée de la tâche à des intervalles de 48 heures, dans le but de répliquer l’administration en série de cette tâche lors du suivi post-commotion. Les résultats indiquent que la performance s’améliore durant les trois premières passations de la tâche et que l’utilisation d’une version alternative ne permet pas d’éliminer l’effet de pratique. Dans l’article III, nous avons déterminé que notre outil détenait la capacité de détecter des déficits cognitifs chez des athlètes ayant réussi le protocole de retour au jeu de Zurich. Spécifiquement, notre outil a permis de créer trois sous-groupes : 80 % des athlètes qui ne montrent aucun déficit ; 20 % des athlètes qui montrent des déficits cognitifs au repos sur la tâche d’alternance ; 10 % des athlètes qui montrent des déficits seulement après l’exercice. Ainsi, lorsqu’utilisés ensemble, la tâche d’alternance et le protocole d’exercice permettent de détecter des déficits chez jusqu’à 30 % des athlètes, qui sont pourtant considérés comme rétablis. Dans l’article IV, nous avons montré que notre outil peut détecter les déficits persistants associés à la commotion. Alors qu’au repos aucun déficit n’est observé, l’évaluation post-exercice révèle des déficits chez 20 % des athlètes avec un historique de commotions. En somme, nos résultats soutiennent l’utilisation de notre outil pour l’évaluation du retour au jeu. Les résultats de cette thèse réaffirment la nécessité de changer la norme pour l’évaluation de la commotion. Sur la base des résultats actuels, l’utilisation de tâches cognitives valides et sensibles aux effets de la commotion au-delà de la phase symptomatique, associée à un protocole d’exercice, devrait devenir l’étalon-or. / Concussion is especially hard to detect because clinicians must rely on self-reported symptoms to diagnose the injury and to determine when an athlete is ready to safely return to play (RTP). To guide the latter decision, many use cognitive testing. However, several studies indicate the need to develop more refined cognitive tasks, with better psychometric properties than those currently used to assess concussion. Another option would be to perform the psychometric validation of experimental tasks frequently used in research settings. Further, a recent study suggests that physical exercise can reveal deficits that were not perceptible at rest in one in four athletes, thus indicating incomplete recovery in a significant minority of the concussed athletes. Accordingly, this dissertation aimed to develop a valid and easily accessible tool to assess the readiness of recently concussed athletes to safely return to play, as well as to assess deficits in the protracted phase of the recovery. The tool includes a standardized exercise protocol (20-min on an ergocycle at 80% theoretical maximum heart rate) and a cognitive task (color-shape switch task). In the first manuscript, we examined the construct validity and the test-retest reliability of the switch task. The results suggest that the switch task is a valid measure of executive functions that shows an adequate test-retest reliability. The results also suggest that the switch costs, which are traditionally computed to isolate the different components of executive functions, do not show as good psychometric properties as primary variables do (i.e., reaction time, accuracy, and inverse efficiency score). In the second manuscript, we measured the practice effect associated with serial administration of the switch task. The results indicate that the performance improves during the first three assessments when the task is completed every 48 hours. Also, they do not support the use of alternative versions of the task in order to eliminate the practice effect as it is still present. In the third manuscript, we determined that our tool has the requisite sensitivity for detecting cognitive deficits in recently concussed athletes who had successfully completed the RTP protocol. Specifically, our tool detected deficits in 20% of athletes when the switch task is completed at rest and in an additional 10% when it is completed post-exercise. Thus, our tool can detect deficits in up to 30% of athletes who had received their medical clearance to RTP. In the 4th manuscript, we showed that our tool can detect persistent deficits stemming from sports concussion. The post-exercise testing showed deficits in 20% of athletes, deficits that were not detected at rest. Thus, the use of an acute bout of aerobic exercise may increase the sensitivity of the cognitive testing. The results herein support the use of the switch task, before and after an acute bout of exercise of moderate intensity. Moreover, they reaffirm the necessity to change the standard for assessing sports concussion. Indeed, based on the current results, the use of valid and reliable cognitive tasks, sensitive to the effects of concussion beyond the symptomatic phase, in combination with an exercise protocol, should become the gold standard.