Reliability of the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System by novice users.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the intrarater and inter-rater reliability of the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SFGS) by novice users.


METHODS
Prospective interval study using one measurement instrument.


METHODS
Tertiary teaching hospital (Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Science Centre).


METHODS
Twenty-two patients with a wide spectrum of facial dysfunction recorded on videotapes were rated using the SFGS by eight novice observers independently in two different sittings separated by 3 weeks. The order of patients was randomized for the second sitting. Intraclass correlation coefficients were calculated for component scores and for total scores within and between raters.


RESULTS
The intrarater reliability coefficients for the eight raters ranged from .838 to .929. This largely overlaps with the data obtained in previous studies with expert raters. The inter-rater reliability for all eight raters at time 1 was .982 and for time 2 was .970. This is higher than what was previously obtained with expert raters.


CONCLUSIONS
The SFGS is as reliable when applied by novice users as by expert users.
Hu
W L
WL
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Science Centre, Ontario.
Ross
B
B
Nedzelski
J
J
D005155:Facial Nerve Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results