title: Factors influencing aversion to specific electrodiagnostic studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the degree of discomfort caused by nerve conduction studies (NCS) versus needle electromyography (EMG), and to determine what factors predict aversion to one test or the other.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred patients underwent both EMG and NCS, and were asked to indicate which test was more uncomfortable. Responses were then correlated with demographic information, testing characteristics, and medical histories to identify any notable associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 200 patients, 58.5% (117) of the patients found the NCS more uncomfortable than EMG. Sixty-one percent (11/18) of the younger patients (18-29 years old) found EMG more uncomfortable (P = 0.08), whereas 68% (40/59) of the older patients (age greater than 60 years old) found NCS more uncomfortable (P = 0.05). Sixty-seven percent (14/21) of the patients whose BMI was less than 22 kg/m(2) rated EMG as more uncomfortable (P = 0.01). Sixty-nine percent (27/39) of the patients whose BMI was greater than or equal to 38 found the NCS more uncomfortable (P = 0.02). A positive correlation existed between NCS discomfort and number of nerves tested. 67% (35/52) of the patients with polyneuropathy found NCS more uncomfortable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nerve conduction studies are more uncomfortable than needle EMG in the majority of patients, and predictions regarding which test will be more uncomfortable for a given patient are possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: Nivedita U
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Jerath
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: Scott B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Strader
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: Chandan G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa, USA ; Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Neurology Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swenson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa, USA ; Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Neurology Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aul
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004576:Electromyography / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aversion; electrodiagnostic studies; electromyography; muscle; nerve; nerve conduction studies; pain