Inter-rater reliability of physical examinations in a prospective study of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders

• Published in: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine Vol. 52; no. 10; p. 1014
• Main Authors: Smith, Caroline K, Bonauto, David K, Silverstein, Barbara A, Wilcox, Dana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2010
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Humans; Male; Musculoskeletal Diseases - diagnosis; Musculoskeletal Diseases - physiopathology; Occupational Medicine; Physical Examination - methods; Prospective Studies; Reproducibility of Results; Upper Extremity - physiopathology; Washington; Washington
• ISSN: 1536-5948
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181f4396b

To test the inter-rater reliability of physical examinations for upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. A total of 111 subjects were examined by both an occupational medicine physician and a physical therapist, who were blinded to each others' tests results and subjects' current symptoms and health histories. Inter-rater reliability was moderate to excellent (0.52 to 0.88) for shoulder tests but required the inclusion of symptoms for increased inter-rater reliability of fair to excellent (0.27 to 0.57) for the elbow and hand/wrist tests. With the lack of "gold standard" tests, it is important that epidemiologic field studies conduct and report inter-rater reliability testing results between study examiners. It is important for researchers to report the results of inter-rater reliability, so that practitioners can weigh the results of study findings to improve both their diagnosis and treatment of these costly injuries.