02308nas a2200349   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001100070653001100081653001300092653002500105653002500130653000900155653002200164653002100186653003100207653002400238653003200262653002300294653003000317653002100347100001700368700001400385245012400399856005900523300001100582490000700593050003200600520131200632022001401944       1999                            d  c1999 Sep10aBangladesh10aFemale10aHumans10aLepromin10aLeprosy, lepromatous10aLeprosy, Tuberculoid10aMale10aMuscular Diseases10aPain Measurement10aReproducibility of Results10aSensation Disorders10aSensitivity and Specificity10aSensory Thresholds10aSeverity of Illness Index10aTensile Strength1 aAnderson A M1 aCroft R P00aReliability of Semmes Weinstein monofilament and ballpoint sensory testing, and voluntary muscle testing in Bangladesh.  uhttp://leprev.ilsl.br/pdfs/1999/v70n3/pdf/v70n3a11.pdf  a305-130 v70  aInfolep Library - available3 a<p>The reliability of methods of testing nerve function is important, since diagnostic decision making is a direct function of the quality of the test. Three methods of nerve function testing were investigated at the Danish Bangladesh Leprosy Mission (DBLM) in north Bangladesh, and assessed for inter-observer reliability. The three methods were 1) ballpoint pen test (BPT) for sensory function; 2) graded Semmes Weinstein monofilament test (SWM) for sensory function and 3) voluntary muscle testing (VMT) for motor function. The weighted kappa (kappa w) statistic was used to express inter-observer reliability. Using this statistic, 0 represents agreement no better than random, and 1.0 complete agreement. kappa w values of > or = 0.80 are reckoned to be adequate for monitoring and research. Fifty-three patients were tested, a Senior physiotechnician acting as 'gold standard' against whom four other staff physiotechnicians were assessed. All three testing methods were found to have minimal inter-observer variation, with the kappa w for inter-observer agreement using BPT being 0.86, the SWM 0.92, and VMT 0.94. It is concluded that in trained and experienced hands, all three methods are reliable and repeatable to a level allowing confident use of results obtained in monitoring and research.</p>  a0305-7518