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Reliability and validity of the acanthosis nigricans screening tool for use in elementary school-age children by
1College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA. lkscot0@uky.edu
Insights
This study validated an acanthosis nigricans (AN) screening tool for children. The tool accurately and reliably identified AN in diverse elementary school students.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Dermatology
- Public Health Screening
Background:
- Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a skin condition often associated with insulin resistance and obesity.
- Early identification of AN in children is crucial for timely intervention and management of associated metabolic conditions.
- A reliable screening tool is needed for diverse pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability and validity of a specific acanthosis nigricans (AN) screening tool.
- To assess the tool's effectiveness across various ethnic groups in elementary school-aged children.
- To determine the tool's ease of use and reproducibility among clinicians.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional observational study involving 288 children aged 5-12 years.
- Three nurse clinicians independently assessed children using a 0-4 grade AN screening tool.
- Inter-rater reliability was assessed using the kappa statistic.
Main Results:
- The AN screening tool demonstrated consistent and appropriate identification of AN across different ethnic groups.
- Clinicians achieved high agreement, with 98% concordance within one grade.
- Substantial inter-rater agreement was confirmed (kappa = .822, p ≤ .001).
- Grade four AN was detected consistently, irrespective of child's sex, BMI, or ethnicity.
Conclusions:
- The acanthosis nigricans (AN) screening tool is reliable and valid for use in diverse elementary school-aged children.
- The tool is user-friendly and reproducible, facilitating effective screening in pediatric populations.
- This validated tool can aid in early detection and management of AN and related metabolic concerns.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to test the reliability and validity of an acanthosis nigricans (AN) screening tool for use in elementary school-age children of different ethnic groups. Cross-sectional data were collected via observation of 288, 5- to 12-year-old school-age children. Three nurse clinicians used a 0-4 grade AN screening tool to rate each child's level of AN independently. AN was consistently and appropriately identified in elementary school-age children from different ethnic groups. All clinicians were within one grade 98% of the time. Substantial agreement among raters was found (kappa statistic = .822, p ≤ .001), indicating similar interpretation and reproducibility of the AN screening tool. There was more consistent detection of grade four AN regardless of the children's sex, body mass index, or ethnic group. The AN screening tool is easy to use and reliable for use with elementary school-age children of various ethnic groups.
