title: Interrater reliability of the INTERMED in a heterogeneous somatic population.
abstract: The INTERMED has been developed to score biopsychosocial case complexity and care needs. In this study, the interrater reliability of the INTERMED was assessed by calculating the agreement of two independent raters, based on the same information. Forty-three in- and outpatients with varying somatic complaints were double scored by a psychologist and a psychiatric C-L nurse. Correlations between total scores of the two raters were ranging from 0.91-0.96. On item level, in 83% there were no differences between the raters, in 16% there was a 1-point difference and in 1% a 2-point difference. Based on a cut-off score of 20/21, a constant k of 0.85 was found. We concluded that the two experienced raters had a high agreement, and that after sufficient training the INTERMED can be reliably scored. Its utility in improving health care delivery for patients with complex biopsychosocial care needs still has to be demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Service, VU Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.dejonge@azvu.nl
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Jonge
authors.forename: Corine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Latour
authors.forename: Frits J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Huyse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index