Validating screening instruments for neuroepidemiologic surveys: experience in Sicily. Sicilian Neuro-Epidemiologic Study (SNES) Group.
In a hospital setting in Sicily, we assessed a screening instrument developed for a prevalence survey of parkinsonism, peripheral neuropathies, stroke, and epilepsy. The subjects consisted of (1) hospital patients with any of the above-mentioned diseases, to investigate sensitivity; and (2) hospital visitors free of all these diseases, to investigate specificity. The standard for comparison was a clinical evaluation based on specified criteria. Trained interviewers administered the screening instrument, asking subjects to answer symptom questions and to perform simple physical tasks. For the questions and tasks together, the sensitivity estimates were 100% for parkinsonism (n = 21), 96% for peripheral neuropathies (n = 22), 96% for stroke (n = 22), and 96% for epilepsy (n = 22), while the specificity estimate was 86% (n = 21). Analogous estimates were computed for the set of questions, for the set of tasks, and for each question and task individually. Despite limitations in our approach, we concluded that the screening instrument would be adequate for its intended use.
Meneghini
F
F
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Fidia Research Laboratories, Abano Terme, Italy.
Rocca
W A
WA
Anderson
D W
DW
Grigoletto
F
F
Morgante
L
L
Reggio
A
A
Savettieri
G
G
Di Perri
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires