Skip to content
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Menu
Home
About Us
Resources
Profiles Metrics
Authors Directory
Institutions Directory
Top Authors
Top Institutions
Top Sponsors
AI Digest
Contact Us
Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Reliability of anthropometric measures in a longitudinal cohort of patients initiating ART in West Africa
BMC Medical Research Methodology, Volume 10, Article 102, Year 2010
Notification
URL copied to clipboard!
Description
Background. Anthropometric measurements are a non invasive, inexpensive, and suitable method for evaluating the nutritional status in population studies with relatively large sample sizes. However, anthropometric techniques are prone to errors that could arise, for example, from the inadequate training of personnel. Despite these concerns, anthropometrical measurement error is seldom assessed in cohort studies. We describe the reliability and challenges associated with measurement of longitudinal anthropometric data in a cohort of West African HIV+ adults . Methods. In a cohort of patients initiating antiretroviral treatment in Mali, we evaluated nutritional status using anthropometric measurements(weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference, waist circumference and triceps skinfold). Observers with no prior experience in the field of anthropometry were trained to perform anthropometrical measurements. To assess the intra- and inter-observer variability of the measurements taken in the course of the study, two sub-studies were carried out: one at the beginning and one at the end of the prospective study. Twelve patients were measured twice on two consecutive days by the same observer on both study occasions. The technical error of measurement (TEM) (absolute and relative value), and the coefficient of reliability (R) were calculated and compared across reliability studies. Results. According to the R and relative TEM, inter-observer reliabilities were only acceptable for height and weight. In terms of intra-observer precision, while the first and second anthropometrists demonstrated better reliability than the third, only height and weight measurements were reliable. Looking at total TEM, we observed that while measurements remained stable between studies for height and weight, circumferences and skinfolds lost precision from one occasion to the next. Conclusions. Height and weight were the most reliable measurements under the study's conditions. Circumferences and skinfolds demonstrated less reliability and lost precision over time, probably as a result of insufficient supervision over the entire length of the study. Our results underline the importance of a careful observer's selection, good initial preparation, as well as the necessity of ongoing training and supervision over the entire course of a longitudinal nutritional study. Failure to do so could have major repercussions on data reliability and jeopardize its utilization. © 2010 Sicotte et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Sicotte, Maryline
Canada, Montreal
Université de Montréal, Faculté de Médecine
Ledoux, Marielle
Canada, Montreal
University of Montreal
Zunzunegui, Maria Victoria
Canada, Montreal
Université de Montréal, Faculté de Médecine
Ag-Aboubacrine, Souleymane
Mali, Bamako
Hopital National du Point g
Nguyen, Vinh Kim
Canada, Montreal
Université de Montréal, Faculté de Médecine
Canada, Montreal
Centre Hospitalier de L'universite de Montreal
Statistics
Citations: 59
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1471-2288-10-102
e-ISSN:
14712288
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Locations
Multi-countries
Mali