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Interprofessional Validation of the Ipswich Touch Test in Adults With Diabetes: The Canadian Experience
Ann-Marie McLaren1, Suzanne H Lu1
1Wound Care Team/Surgery & Critical Care Program, Unity Health Toronto, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Objectives:
Diabetes can lead to loss of protective sensation (LOPS) in the feet. Identifying LOPS requires use of screening tests, such as the standard monofilament test (SMT) and the Ipswich Touch Test (IpTT). The aim of this validation study was to compare the SMT (criterion) with the IpTT (new test).
Methods:
Each participant was randomly tested using the SMT, IpTT and Neuropathy Disability Score to identify LOPS. Sixteen health-care providers assessed 8 participants in randomized order using a specific protocol.
Results:
The IpTT, compared with the SMT, demonstrated a specificity of 100% for all raters and a mean sensitivity of 93.8% for LOPS. Kappa coefficient was 0.97 for SMT and 0.83 for IpTT.
Conclusions:
The IpTT can be used by health-care providers as an effective tool for screening for LOPS in people with diabetes. This study validated the IpTT to the SMT in identifying LOPS.
