Audit of Goldmann applanation tonometer calibration.

Background: Goldmann applanation tonometry is a process of measuring the pressure inside the eye which is essential in many areas of ophthalmology. There are however many sources of error acting upon this process. One potential error is the incorrect calibration of the tonometer. With very little li...

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Publicado en:Ophthalmic Nursing: International Journal of Ophthalmic Nursing Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 8 - 12
Autores principales: Tattersall CL, Vernon SA
Formato: questionnaire/scale research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: TM & D Press 2004 Jun
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      jtl: Ophthalmic Nursing: International Journal of Ophthalmic Nursing
      issn: 13681249
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      dt: 2004 Jun
      vid: 8
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      pid: 20568
      pub: TM & D Press
      place: London, <Blank>
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        atl: Audit of Goldmann applanation tonometer calibration.
      aug:
        au:
          Tattersall CL
          Vernon SA
        affil: Glaucoma Research Nurse, Department of Ophthalmology, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH; chris.tattersall@mail.qmcuh-tr.trent.nhs.uk
      sug:
        subj:
          Calibration
          Equipment Reliability Evaluation
          Glaucoma Diagnosis
          Tonometry Equipment and Supplies
          Academic Medical Centers
          Calibration Evaluation
          Chi Square Test
          Convenience Sample
          Descriptive Statistics
          kappa Statistic
          Questionnaires
          Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test
          Human
      ab: Background: Goldmann applanation tonometry is a process of measuring the pressure inside the eye which is essential in many areas of ophthalmology. There are however many sources of error acting upon this process. One potential error is the incorrect calibration of the tonometer. With very little literature available, an audit of tonometer calibration was undertaken to assess the accuracy of calibration as well as the frequency of calibration checks.Method: Calibration checks were made on 24 Goldmann applanation tonometers at the test points of 0, 2 and 60mmHG. A questionnaire concerning the use of calibration checks by hospital staff was also used. Results Sixty seven per cent (n=16) of tonometers were found to have some degree of error at some point in their range (mean 1.5mmHG SDO.72). When an acceptable error of less than 1mmHg is taken into account, 62.5 per cent (n=15) of tonometers showed an error (mean 1.62mmHg SD 0.67). At the most critical test point (10mmHg) 41.7 per cent (n=10) of tonometers had an error greater than or equal to 1mmHg (mean 1.45mmHg SD 0.49).No statistical association existed between calibration errors and any particular test point. There was, however, a statistically significant difference between all test points and a theoretically perfect tonometer which was most evident at the 20mmHg test point (p=0.001). The largest proportion of staff, 43 per cent (n=15), claimed that the last time they made a calibration check was some time in the past year. Nine per cent did not consider themselves proficient at checking the calibration of tonometers. Conclusion: Statistically significant errors were found, and with the varied use of calibration checks from individual operators, the implementation of regular, recorded calibration checks is indicated.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        questionnaire/scale
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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