Interrater reliability of clinical findings during invagination of the inguinal canal (n=88)
| Inguinal palpation | Kappa (95% CI) | Kappa interpretation | OA | PA | NA | Bias index | Prevalence (PI) | Mean prevalence in defined IRGP* | Mean prevalence in non-IRGP† |
| External ring size (S/M/L) (n=86)‡ | 0.56 (0.43 to 0.70) | Moderate | 70% | ** | ** | ** | ** | S: 15% M: 18% L: 67% | S: 14% M: 30% L: 56% |
| Bulging (y/n) (n=67)§ | 0.29 (0.05 to 0.52) | Fair | 64% | 64% | 65% | 0.06 | 49% (−0.01) | Yes: 54% No: 31% n/a: 15% | Yes: 26% No: 57% n/a: 18% |
| Posterior wall structure (firm/soft) (n=59)¶ | 0.01 (−0.38 to 0.40) | Slight | 70% | 18% | 81% | −0.10 | 19% (−0.63) | Soft: 68% Firm: 10% n/a: 22% | Soft: 54% Firm: 24% n/a: 23% |
*Based on the average prevalence in defined inguinal-related groin pain between examiner A (n=41) and B (n=37).
†Based on the average prevalence in non-inguinal-related groin pain (ie no likely or defined inguinal-related groin pain classified by the examiner OR fully asymptomatic side) between examiner A (n=36) and B (n=44). One participant refused inguinal examination of the second examiner and no classification was made for this participant by examiner B. Cases classified with likely inguinal-related groin pain were not separately described due to the small sample size.
‡1 Participant refused inguinal examination of the second examiner.
§1 Participant refused inguinal examination of the second examiner, 19 inguinal canals were not assessable for bulging by at least one of the examiners.
¶1 Participant refused inguinal examination of the second examiner, 27 inguinal canals were not assessable for posterior wall structure by at least one of the examiners.
**, Not applicable ; IRGP, inguinal-related groin pain; L, large (>fingertip); M, medium (~fingertip); NA, negative agreement; n/a, not assessable by the examiner; OA, overall agreement; PA, positive agreement; PI, prevalence index; S, small (< fingertip).