[Standardization and reliability of anthropometric measurements for population surveys].
In this paper we describe the standardization and reliability of anthropometric measurements carried out by five population survey anthropometrists. For the standardization of anthropometric measurement techniques, one expert anthropometrist conducted two theoretical and practical workshops, in September 2006 and March 2007, where the intra- and interobserver technical errors of measurement (TEMs) were assessed, respectively. For the intraobserver assessment of anthropometric measurements, we studied 121 schoolchildren on two different days. For interobserver assessment, we studied 22 schoolchildren that were measured, during the same period, once by each of the five anthropometrists and by an expert anthropometrist. For skinfold thickness, intraobserver TEMs in general were smaller than 1 mm; for circumferences, TEMs in general were smaller than 1 cm. For the subscapular, suprailiac and calf skinfolds, the intraobserver relative TEMs were greater than the acceptable limit for beginner anthropometrists. Intraobserver reliability for skinfold thickness was greater than 0.95 and for circumferences was greater than 0.99 in almost all cases. The results of interobserver TEMs and reliability were similar to intraobserver assessment. The anthropometrists performed better in the intraobserver relative TEMs because their values were smaller than the acceptable limit. We conclude that the anthropometrists showed a better performance after two assessments of the error of measurement. This suggests that the standardization process of anthropometric measurements was carried out with success.
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Santa Catarina, Brasil.
Deivis Elton Schlickmann
DE
Frainer
Fernando
F
Adami
Francisco de Assis Guedes de
Fde A
Vasconcelos
Maria Alice Altenburg de
MA
Assis
Maria Cristina Marino
MC
Calvo
Raquel
R
Kerpel
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*