[Study on the consistency of reflux score evaluated by three different level of throat physicians]

The consistency of reflux finding score (RFS) was studied by three different level of throat physicians.

One hundred and ten laryngeal photos were chosen to assess the RFS test-retest reliability on two separate occasions at least more than one week.

The mean total RFS scores for doctor A were 9.05 ± 2.54, doctor B were 8.80 ± 2.20, doctor C were 8.98 ± 2.21 at the initial screening, and 9.20 ± 2.47, 9.03 ± 2.14 and 8.91 ± 2.30 respectively at the repeat evaluation. The test-retest reliability of total RFS scores of three doctors were 0.860, 0.800 and 0.837 respectively, P all <0.001. The test-retest reliability of each item scores for doctor A were from 0.662 to 1.000, doctor B were from 0.486 to 1.000 and doctor C were from 0.613 to 1.000. There were no differences in the total RFS scores comparing among each evaluation of the three doctors (χ(2) = 1.553, P = 0.907). Total RFS scores more than 7 were considered as abnormal. The interobsever consistency was as follows: A with B was 83.6% (κ = 0.617, P = 0.000), A with C was 85.5% (κ = 0.644, P = 0.000),B with C was 89.1% (κ = 0.720, P = 0.000). The intraobserver consistency was 91.8% (κ = 0.807, P = 0.000), 81.8% (κ = 0.534, P = 0.000), 90.9% (κ = 0.741, P = 0.000) respectively.

The result of this study shows that the assessment of RFS is not influenced by different educational backgrounds and clinical experience.RFS can be applied widely in China.