title: Concordance analysis of ultrasonographic diagnoses by urology nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To check the degree of concordance in renal ultrasound examination between two nurses and one experienced urologist with the aim of testing nurses' competence performing renal ultrasound.
  
  
  METHODS
  The echographic aspect of both kidneys (normal or abnormal) was evaluated. Every abnormal finding resulted in the automatic classification of the kidney as 'abnormal'. The agreement between observers was tested using the Kappa concordance index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eventually, 75 and 45 consecutive examinations performed by the urologist and nurse MM, and the urologist and nurse NJ, respectively, were evaluable. Overall, the study tested 120 patients. Prevalence of 'abnormal' kidneys was intermediate (28-36%). The overall agreement percentage exceeded 88% (88,8-92%). Kappa coefficient was always 0.7.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urological ultrasound examination by qualified well-trained nurses provides records very similar to those delivered by an experienced urologist.
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Camino del Molino 2, Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain. apaez.hflr@salud.madrid.org
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Páez
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Juárez
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Del Vigo
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Redondo
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durán
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009726:Nurses; D010820:Physicians; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014572:Urology / Q000193:education