Novice assessors demonstrate good intra-rater agreement and reliability when determining pressure pain thresholds; a cross-sectional study

Roland R. Reezigt, Geranda E.C. Slager, Michel W. Coppieters, Gwendolyne G.M. Scholten-Peeters*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Experienced assessors show good intra-rater reproducibility (within-session and between-session agreement and reliability) when using an algometer to determine pressure pain thresholds (PPT). However, it is unknown whether novice assessors perform equally well. This study aimed to determine within and between-session agreement and reliability of PPT measurements performed by novice assessors and explored whether these parameters differed per assessor and algometer type. Methods: Ten novice assessors measured PPTs over four test locations (tibialis anterior muscle, rectus femoris muscle, extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle and paraspinal muscles C5-C6) in 178 healthy participants, using either a Somedic Type II digital algometer (10 raters; 88 participants) or a Wagner Force Ten FDX 25 digital algometer (nine raters; 90 participants). Prior to the experiment, the novice assessors practiced PPTs for 3 h per algometer. Each assessor measured a different subsample of ~9 participants. For both the individual assessor and for all assessors combined (i.e., the group representing novice assessors), the standard error of measurement (SEM) and coefficient of variation (CV) were calculated to reflect within and between-session agreement. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC1, 1). Results: Within-session agreement expressed as SEM ranged from 42 to 74 kPa, depending on the test location and device. Between-session agreement, expressed as SEM, ranged from 36 to 76 kPa and the CV ranged from 9-16% per body location. Individual assessors differed from the mean group results, ranging from -55 to +32 kPa or from -9.5 to +6.6 percentage points. Reliability was good to excellent (ICC1, 1: 0.87 to 0.95). Results were similar for both types of algometers. Conclusions: Following 3 h of algometer practice, there were slight differences between assessors, but reproducibility in determining PPTs was overall good.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere14565
Pages (from-to)1-20
Number of pages20
JournalPeerJ
Volume11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Jan 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was conducted with a research grant for teachers of the Dutch Organisation of Scientific Research (NWO) under project number 023.011.069. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Reezigt et al.

Funding

This study was conducted with a research grant for teachers of the Dutch Organisation of Scientific Research (NWO) under project number 023.011.069. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

FundersFunder number
Dutch Organisation of Scientific Research
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek023.011.069

    Keywords

    • Central sensitisation
    • Mechanical hyperalgesia
    • Novice assessor
    • Novice rater
    • Pain measurement
    • Pain sensitivity
    • Pressure pain threshold
    • Quantitative sensory testing
    • Reliability
    • Reproducibility

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