title: Hematuria grading scale: a new tool for gross hematuria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a new tool for gross hematuria, the Hematuria Grading Scale (HGS), and evaluate its consistency in assessing hematuria samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  The HGS was developed on the basis of an evaluation of sample brightness and saturation using a cyan, magenta, yellow, key (black) color model. Thirty hematuria samples were prepared from human blood by diluting with saline using a standard method. Twenty examiners (5 in each group, including laypeople, nurses, general practitioners, and urologists) participated. Each scored 30 hematuria samples using the HGS under the same conditions without communicating with one another. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to assess the reliability of the datasets. Questionnaires for usefulness (Q1) and simplicity (Q2) were obtained from all examiners using a 5-point Likert scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ICC for pooled examiner scores showed a high agreement rate (99.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.996-0.999). ICC values by group were 99.3% (95% CI 0.989-0.997) for laypeople, 98.8% (95% CI 0.980-0.994) for nurses, 99.1% (95% CI 0.984-0.995) for general practitioners, and 99.2% (95% CI 0.987-0.996) for urologists. Mean Q1 and Q2 scores were 4.70 ± 0.66 and 4.30 ± 1.03, respectively, indicating general satisfaction with the HGS among all examiners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Evaluations of gross hematuria using the HGS were in high agreement among examiners of all types, and all examiners found the HGS simple and easy to use. The HGS should be a helpful tool for assessment and communication of gross hematuria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Severance Hospital, Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Kyo Chul
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Seung Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Deuk
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kang Su
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003116:Color; D006417:Hematuria / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000379:methods