• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.335-340
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was performed to investigate the influence of the condition with and without external support on the strength of hip flexor in supine position in subjects without core stabilization. Hip flexor muscles are very functional in the hip joint structures. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the strength of hip flexor in a clinical and precise way. Methods: Twenty subjects participated in this study. The double bent leg-lower test was used to evaluate subjects without core stabilization. The strength of hip flexor muscles was evaluated in supine position, both with and without external support condition. The paired t-test was used to compare the strength of hip flexor muscles according to external support. The level of statistical significance was at α=0.05. The intra-rater reliability of the repeated measures of hip flexor strength was estimated by calculating the intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). Results: In subjects without core stabilization, the strength of hip flexor in supine was greater with external support than that without external support (p<0.05). In addition, the intra-rater reliability with an ICC (3, 1) of the strength measurement of hip flexor with external support was higher than that without external support. Conclusion: In subjects without core stabilization, the condition with external support can contribute to the strength of hip flexor in supine position and the strength measurement of hip flexor should be considered with the condition with and without external support.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.51-62
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to compare the relative accuracy of a range of computer-based analysis with respect to EMG onset determined visually by an experienced examiner. Ten healthy students (6 male, 4 female) were recruited and three times randomly selected trials of isometric contraction of wrist flexion and extension were evaluated using four technique. These methods were compared which varied in terms of EMG processing, threshold value and the number of samples for which the mean must exceed the defined threshold, and beyond 7% of maximum amplitude. To identify determination of onset time, ICCs(Intraclass Correlation Coefficients) was used and inter-rater arid intra-rater reliability ranged good in visually derived onset values. The results of this study present that in wrist flexion and extension, the reliability of the inter and intra-examiner muscle contraction onset times through visual analysis showed beyond .971 with ICCs. The reliability of the muscle contraction onset time decision through visual reading, tested with computer analysis, showed a relationship of all the selected analysis methods with ICCs .859 and .871. The objective computer-based analysis comparing with visual reading at the same time is the effective and qualitative data analysis method, considering the specificity of each study method.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.65-70
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the intertester reliability and validity of four nonradiologic measurements of thoracic spine rotation in healthy adults. Design: Descriptive laboratory study. Methods: This study was conducted on 20 male and 20 female university students aged between 19 and 26. To measure thoracic rotation, a goniometer, a bubble inclinometer, a dual inclinometer, and a smartphone application-clinometer were used. The measurement was performed twice for each device and the same measurement was performed by two examiners. The measurements were performed in the lumbar locked position. The arm in the direction of rotation was taken back and placed onto the back of the lumbar region. With right and left trunk rotation, the head was rotated together but remained in the center line so that the axial rotation was maintained. Both examiners performed the measuring procedures and directly handled the measuring instrument. All measurement results were recorded by the recorder. Results: The range of motion (ROM) of thoracic rotation in lumbar locked position for all four devices was 47 degrees. The intra-rater reliability estimates ranged from 0.738 to 0.906 (p<0.05). The inter-rater reliability estimates ranged from 0.736 to 0.853 (p<0.05). The goniometer, bubble inclinometer, dual inclinometer, and smartphone clinometer showed high validity (p<0.05). This result indicates that all four devices may be used by the same examiner and by other examiners obtaining follow-up measurement. Conclusions: The use of the goniometer, bubble inclinometer, dual inclinometer, and smartphone clinometer for measurements in the lumbar locked posture are reliable and valid nonradiologic measures of thoracic rotational ROM in healthy adults.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.10-18
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• 2020

Background: The elevated risk of occupational infection such as tuberculosis among health workers in many countries raises the question of whether the quality of occupational health and safety (OHS) and infection prevention and control (IPC) can be improved by auditing. The objectives of this study were to measure (1) audited compliance of primary health-care facilities in South Africa with national standards for OHS and IPC, (2) change in compliance at reaudit three years after baseline, and (3) the inter-rater reliability of the audit. Methods: The study analyzed audits of 60 primary health-care facilities in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Baseline external audits in the time period 2011-2012 were compared with follow-up internal audits in 2014-2015. Audits at 25 facilities that had both internal and external audits conducted in 2014/2015 were used to measure reliability. Results: At baseline, 25% of 60 facilities were "noncompliant" (audit score<50%), 48% "conditionally compliant" (score >50 < 80%), and only 27% "compliant" (score >80%). Overall, there was no significant improvement in compliance three years after baseline. Percentage agreement on specific items between internal and external audits ranged from 28% to 92% and kappa from -0.8 to 0.41 (poor to moderate). Conclusion: Low baseline compliance with OHS-IPC measures and lack of improvement over three years reflect the difficulties of quality improvement in these domains. Low inter-rater reliability of the audit instrument undermines the audit process. Evidence-based investment of effort is required if repeat auditing is to contribute to occupational risk reduction for health workers.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.186-190
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• 2018

Objective: Deep neck flexor muscle endurance (DNFET) is important to cervical pain patients. However, there is no normative data of the DNFET hold time of Korean university students. The purpose of this study was to provide normative data and the reliability of the DNFET times of Korean university students and to compare the DNFET hold times between male and female subjects. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The participants included 39 male and 39 female students with no cervical pain. Each DNFET was measured while the subjects kept their chin tucked in while in a supine (hook-lying) position and with the head lifted 2.5 cm off the bed. The DNFET was conducted on each subject twice and the mean values were obtained. After each measurement, the participants rested for 5 minutes. Inter-rater reliability was measured by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) by three separate evaluators. Results: The inter-rater reliability was good, showing an ICC (2,3) value = 0.785 (95% confidence interval, 0.370-0.942). The DNFET time scores for men and women were $25.14{\pm}9.96$ seconds and $15.23{\pm}6.10$ seconds, respectively, in which the time scores of the men were significantly longer compared to women (p<0.05). Conclusions: Asymptomatic men displayed higher DNFET scores than women. This study can help clinicians test cervical function of patients and set an interventional goal. These findings serve as a basis that insists Korean women to increase their amount of physical activity.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.154-158
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to propose a new reference point for measurement of the infrasternal angle and to investigate the intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of infrasternal angle measurement using photographs. Methods: Twenty-four healthy male college students participated as subjects in this study. Photographs were taken of subjects in two postures, one standing with the shoulders relaxed and one standing with the shoulders at $150^{\circ}$ abduction. All photographs were analyzed using Image J software. Raters used the photographs to measure the infrasternal angle between the xiphoid process, the medial margin of rib and navel on the right and left sides. The reliability of the infrasternal angle measurement was assessed by means of intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC (3,1)]. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of the infrasternal angle measurement for the right side at rest were excellent (ICC=0.866 and 0.813, respectively), as were those for the left side at rest (ICC=0.919 and 0.846, respectively). At $150^{\circ}$ shoulder abduction, the intra- and inter-rater reliabilities for measurement of the infrasternal angle on the right side were excellent (ICC=0.972 and 0.778, respectively), as were those for the left side (ICC=0.914 and 0.826, respectively). Conclusion: These findings suggest that this technique can be successfully used to measure the infrasternal angle, thus suggesting a new reference point for determining the length of the internal oblique and external oblique muscles in clinical situations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.125-134
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• 2001

The Advanced Pressurized rater Reactor 1400(APR1400) system is advanced of the successful Korean Nuclear Power Plants(KSNP) design which meets functional needs for safety enhancement reliability improvement, and control in the human-computer monitoring system. Therefore this paper describes the scoring model in order to justify the reliability and safety in APR 1400 under uncertainty. The structure of this paper consists of the human engineering, risk safety, quality function, safety organization management factors of the qualitative factors in chapter 2, and the expectation results of the normalized scoring model in chapter 3. Finally, the proposed reliability model have provided the technical flexibility not only for functional control fields but also for accidents protection systems in APR 1400 under uncertainty.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.510-519
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• 2006

Purpose: To develop and validate a scale suitable and efficient scale for use in clinical practice as to assess pain in premature infants. Method: Pain indicators identified by observation of preform infants. A cohort of preform infants was studied prospectively to determine the construct validity, inter-rater reliability, and internal consistency of the scale. The PIPS uses four indicators of pain: corrected gestational age, heart rate, oxygen saturation, behavioral state. The validation study included 45 premature infants with gestational age of 37 weeks or less. Results: The inter-rater reliability of the PIPS was acceptable, with Pearson correlations ranging from.720 to.970. Internal consistency was high: Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from.551 to.653. There was a strong correlation between the PIPS and PIPP scores (each researcher's r=.743, each indicator's r=.914). Although gestational age showed no association between these factors and the sum, the other variables were positively associated with the sum. Time needed to calculate PIPS scores is was less than Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) scores(p<.000). Conclusion: The validation data suggest that the PIPS is appropriate and efficient for assessing pain in premature infants. Further studies are required about to determine appropriate interventions for each pain score on the PIPS.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.549-558
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a Nursing Competency Scale in Simulation (NCSS) for nursing students. Methods: A preliminary version of the NCSS of 14 items was derived from the literature. A panel of seven experts reviewed the preliminary version for content validation and developed 15 items scale. A convenient sample of 195 nursing students completed the survey and two evaluators measured the performances of nine teams in a simulation scenario with NCSS. The data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, descriptive statistics, independent t-test and Cronbach's alpha. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used in order to estimate the degree of inter-rater reliability. Results: An exploratory factor analysis demonstrated that two factor structures of the NCSS explained 51.1% of the total variance. Two factors were named psychosocial skills and cognitive and psychomotor skills. The mean scores of NCSS between third and 4th grade were significantly different providing support for its known-group validity. Cronbach's alpha was .90 and ranged from .79 to .88. The overall ICC for inter-rater agreement was 0.89 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.98). Conclusion: This scale shows preliminary evidence for validity and reliability. It could be a useful instrument for measuring learning outcome in simulation for nursing students' clinical competency.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.96-101
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• 2007

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is the retrograde movement of gastric contents into the larynx, pharynx, and upper aero-digestive tract. LPR differs from gastroesophageal reflux in that it is often not associated with heartburn and regurgitation symptoms. Otolaryngological manifestations of acid reflux include a wide range of pharyngeal and laryngeal symptoms. Belafsky et al. developed a useful self-administered tool, the reflux symptom index (RSI), for assessing the degree of LPR symptoms. Patients are asked to use a 0 to 5 point scale to grade the following symptoms: 1) hoarseness or voice problems; 2) throat clearing; 3) excess throat mucus or postnasal drip ; 4) difficulty swallowing; 5) coughing after eating or lying down; 6) breathing difficulties ; 7) troublesome or annoying cough; 8) sensation of something sticking or a lump in the throat; 9) heartburn, chest pain, indigestion or stomach acid coming up. A RSI score greater than 13 is considered abnormal. As there is no validated instrument to document the physical findings and severity of LPR, Belafsky et al. developed an eight-item clinical severity scale for judging laryngoscopic finding, the reflux finding score (RFS). They rated eight LPR-associated findings on a scale from 0 to 4 : subglottic edema, ventricular obliteration, erythema/hyperemia, vocal-fold edema, diffuse laryngeal edema, posterior commissure hypertrophy, granuloma/granulation tissue, and thick endolaryngeal mucus. A RFS score of greater than 7 was found to suggest LPR-associated laryngitis. Although both indices (RSI and RFS) are widely used, there is some controversy about their validity (sensitivity and specificity) and reliability (intra-rater and inter-rater) in LPR diagnosis and treatment. We discuss the validity and reliability of RSI and RFS with literature review.