[Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow: learning curve for the measurement method and reproducibility].
OBJECTIVE
A prospective study on the learning curve and reproducibility of PNIF measurement with 18 different operators.


METHODS
Five hundred twenty-eight patients in two groups were prospectively enrolled in this study from September 2003 to April 2004. The learning curve of the technique was monitored after five patients had been measured. Reproducibility was evaluated with all patients after two consecutive measurements.


RESULTS
The technique was acquired by all operators after the fifth patient. The mean PNIF measurements in controls and patients were 86.02+/-36.96 l/min and 89.59+/-41.97 l/min, respectively. Reproducibility (PNIF2-PNIF1=5.51+/-24.93 l/min) was obtained for all operators, whatever the number of measurements taken.


CONCLUSIONS
The study confirms the good reproducibility and the easy training in PNIF measurement.
Dufour
X
X
Département d'ORL, de chirurgie cervicomaxillofaciale, et d'audiophonologie, CHU de Poitiers, BP 577, 86021 Poitiers cedex, France. x.dufour@chu-poitiers.fr
Gohler
C
C
Delagranda
A
A
Fontanel
J-P
JP
Klossek
J-M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001239:Inhalation / Q000502:physiology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000502:physiology*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index