Interpretation of subjective symptoms in double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges - interobserver reliability.
BACKGROUND
Subjective symptoms after food challenges are difficult to interpret and no standard is available. We discuss a strategy for how to interpret a diary. Furthermore, the interobserver reliability is evaluated.


METHODS
Diaries for 32 patients with subjective symptoms were used. The diaries were re-evaluated with a predefined strategy by three independent observers.


RESULTS
The proportion of positives was 21.9% among the old diagnoses, according to the new approach 34.4% (observers I and II) and 37.5% (observer III) were positive. The new approach had high interobserver reliability (97 and 100%).


CONCLUSIONS
The proportion of positives depends on how subjective symptoms are interpreted. Interpretations of subjective symptoms in diaries could be made with high interobserver reliability.
Gellerstedt
M
M
Department for Studies of Work, Economics and Health, the University of Trollhättan, Uddevalla, Sweden.
Magnusson
J
J
Gråjö
U
U
Ahlstedt
S
S
Bengtsson
U
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation