Validity and reliability of a vibration-based cell phone in detecting peripheral neuropathy among patients with diabetes mellitus in primary care
Muh Jasmin a,b, Saldy Yusuf b,*, Syahrul Syahrul b, Eva Arna Abrar b,c

(a) Nursing Study Program, College of Health Science Karya Kesehatan, Kendari, Indonesia
(b) Faculty of Nursing, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
(c) Stikes Nani Hasanuddin, Makassar, Indonesia

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of a vibration-based cell phone in detecting peripheral neuropathy in the primary care setting.
Methods: This study consisted of three phases: a pilot study, concurrent validity study, and inter reliability study. A 128-Hz tuning fork and vibration-based cell phone using the Vibrations-Test app was compared in the primary care setting.
Results: The pilot study confirmed that the vibration-based cell phone has an adequate reliability (r > 0.70, p < 0.001). The concurrent validity test involved 96 participants (aged 55.78 +- 8.32 years). The Pearson correlation test found the highest correlation in the metatarsal V (r = 0.741, right feet; 0.772, left feet; p < 0.001). In the four primary care settings, the interrater reliability between nurses of the vibration-based cell phone were k = 1,000, k = 1,000, k = 1,000, and k = 0.720.
Conclusions: The concurrent validity test found moderate to strong correlation results and that the interrater reliability had a strong agreement that was almost perfect. Thus, vibration-based cell phone applications can be used as screening tools for detecting neuropathy among patients with diabetes mellitus in the primary care setting.

Keywords: Diabetes Melitus, Neuropathy, vibration, Community care

Topic: Science, education, and women