Assessment of accuracy of the scoliosis school screening examination.

Abstract

Fifteen nurses of comparable training examined six children with normal spines, eight with curves between 10 degrees and 20 degrees, and three with curves over 20 degrees. Nurses correctly classified 78 per cent of normal children, 49 per cent of those with curves between 10 degrees and 20 degrees, and 93 per cent of curves over 20 degrees. The accuracy of the nurses' decision to refer or not refer was determined to be 75 per cent. The sensitivity and specificity values were calculated as 74 per cent and 78 per cent, respectively. Kappa statistics were calculated to assess the agreement greater than chance of the nurse with x-ray evidence. Overall, there was significant agreement (K = 0.49; p less than .001).