title: Intrarater and interrater reliability for measurements in videofluoroscopy of swallowing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intrarater and interrater reliability is crucial to the quality of diagnostic and therapy-effect studies. This paper reports on a systematic review of studies on intrarater and interrater reliability for measurements in videofluoroscopy of swallowing. The aim of this review was to summarize and qualitatively analyze published studies on that topic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Those published up to March 2013 were found through a comprehensive electronic database search using PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library. Two reviewers independently assessed the studies using strict inclusion criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen studies were included and then qualitatively analyzed. In several of these, methodological problems were found. Moreover, intrarater and interrater reliability varied with the measure applied. A meta-analysis was not carried out as studies were not of sufficient quality to warrant doing so.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to achieve reliable measurements in videofluoroscopy of swallowing, it is recommended that raters use well-defined guidelines for the levels of ordinal visuoperceptual variables. Furthermore, in order to make the measurements reliable (intrarater and interrater) it is recommended that, following protocolled pre-experimental training, the raters should have maximum consensus about the definition of the measured variables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands. laura.baijens@mumc.nl
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baijens
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barikroo
authors.forename: Walmari
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pilz
mesh_terms: D003679:Deglutition; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005471:Fluoroscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014743:Videotape Recording / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Barium; Deglutition; Deglutition disorders; Fluoroscopy; Observer variation; Reproducibility of results