title: The Reliability of the Reflux Finding Score Among General Otolaryngologists.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The reflux finding score (RFS) is a validated clinical severity scale for findings of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) on fiberoptic laryngoscopy. To our knowledge, there have been no studies to determine whether severity of patient symptoms influence the RFS; in addition, the reliability of the RFS has not been tested for general otolaryngologists.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study were (1) to determine whether the RFS for LPR is influenced by symptoms of reflux and (2) to determine the inter-rater reliability for general otolaryngologists in diagnosing LPR using the RFS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten general otolaryngologists were selected to participate. Participants were asked to complete an Internet survey consisting of flexible endoscopic videos of larynges with varying physical findings of reflux and grade the severity of reflux using the RFS. The videos were randomly shown with and without accompanying patient symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data suggest that patient symptoms influence the RFS. Inter-rater reliability for general otolaryngologists using the RFS is fair.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among general otolaryngologists in our study, the reliability and objectivity of the RFS in diagnosing reflux cannot be demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Electronic address: brent.a.chang@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Brent A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: S Danielle
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: MacNeil
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Murray D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Patricia K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D057045:Laryngopharyngeal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020704:Laryngoscopes / Q000592:standards; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000592:standards*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014741:Video Recording
keywords: Laryngopharyngeal reflux; Rater reliability; Reflux finding score