TITLE:
Exploring the Potential of a Questionnaire in Predicting Results of Nerve Conduction Studies in Patients with Suspected Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Exploring a Clinician and Patient Complete Version
AUTHORS:
Carl Edwards
KEYWORDS:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Questionnaire, Nerve Conduction Studies, Primary/Secondary Care
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation,
Vol.8 No.3,
August
12,
2020
ABSTRACT: This evaluation of the Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire
(CTQ) was designed to establish the validity and flexibility of its potential
use both within a primary and secondary care setting. The questionnaire was
originally designed to predict the positive and negative outcome of Nerve
Conduction Studies (NCS) in those patients with suspected Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome (CTS). Prior to being seen by the hand specialist patients who had
been referred with suspected CTS where asked to complete the CTQ. These
questionnaires were coded and filed by the
clinic nurse. The hand specialist then completed the questionnaire with the patient preceding NCS. Questionnaires were
scored subsequent to the appointment. Results for the hand specialist
completed questionnaire showed an 80%
specificity and 92% sensitivity regarding the ability of the CTQ to
predict a positive NCS using a pre-determine cut-off score. The patient
completed questionnaire showed a 70.67% specificity and 72% sensitivity. Using receiver operating characteristics a threshold
score could be determined to achieve 100% sensitivity/specificity for both
questionnaires. This questionnaire provides a useful addition in the
assessment of patients with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome and could be used
in a range of clinical settings although the scoring cut-off may need to be
adapted depending on whether the questionnaire was completed by the clinician
or patient. Using the questionnaire in a clinical setting would reduce the
requirement for NCS by 60%, this would offer significant time and cost savings.