Abstract
Background and aim: It is well known that the test acceptability for forced vital capacity varies according to the characteristics of examinees and examiners. However, there have been only a few studies investigating the relationship between the acceptability and the characteristics of examinees or examiners in a large number of patients. We investigated the relationship between three acceptability indices for forced vital capacity [extrapolated volume (EV), peak flow time (PEF time), and forced expiratory time (FET)] and the characteristics of patients [age, gender, body mass index (BMI), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%), vital capacity, number of examinations] or experience of laboratory technologists. Results: Female patients had significantly better EV-index than male patients. Patients with a low BMI had a significantly worse FET-index than those with a high BMI. Patients with FEV1% < 70% had better indices of EV, PEF-time, and FET than those with FEV1% ≧ 70%. Less experienced technologists performed better tests in FET-index than well-experienced technicians. Conclusion: The test acceptability for forced vital capacity was different according to the characteristics of patients and experience of laboratory technicians.
