title: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale: conventional self vs physician administration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a simple, self-administered questionnaire that provides a measurement of the subject's level of daytime sleepiness, and is widely used for patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Some works undermined its accuracy. The aim of this study was to compare self-administered ESS scores to physician-administered scores in a sample of patients with suspicion of OSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomly divided into two groups: group 1, or the self-administered group (n = 113); and group 2, or the physician-administered group (n = 112). Patients in group 1 were asked to complete the ESS in the traditional way; in group 2, the ESS was administered by a sleep-medicine physician. Subjects in both groups underwent diagnostic in-laboratory portable monitoring (PM) within 1 week's time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of questionnaires properly completed was significantly different between groups: 77% (87 of 113) in the group 1 vs 100% (112 of 112) in the group 2 (P = .00). Scores obtained when a physician administered the questionnaire (ESSp) were higher than those when the ESS was self administered (ESSs) (ESSp:12.09 ± 4.1 vs ESSs:10.37 ± 5.49; P = .01). The ESSp was more highly correlated with apnea-hypopnea index and oxygen desaturation index than the ESSs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results lead us to consider the physician-administered ESS to be more accurate than the traditional ESS; thus, our suggestion is to validate this new method of administration.
authors: Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: mariodmn84@hotmail.com.
authors: Mario Francesco
authors: MF
authors: Damiani
authors: Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors: Vitaliano Nicola
authors: VN
authors: Quaranta
authors: Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors: Vito Antonio
authors: VA
authors: Falcone
authors: Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors: Felice
authors: F
authors: Gadaleta
authors: Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Maiellari
authors: Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Ranieri
authors: Hospital "Salvatore Maugeri", Pavia, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Fanfulla
authors: Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors: Pierluigi
authors: P
authors: Carratù
authors: Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors: Onofrio
authors: O
authors: Resta
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012648:Self Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires