Reliability could be established for a physiological instrument, such as an automatic blood pressure (BP) cuff, by:
a. measuring pulse rate and BP.
b. recalibrating the equipment.
c. taking the BP in a different arm.
d. using another BP cuff to compare results.
ANS: C
Reliability is concerned with the consistency of the measurement technique. Recalibration of mechanical equipment is used in many physiological studies to maintain precision, one of the critical attributes of reliability.
Measuring the pulse rate would not help determine the reliability of the BP cuff. Reliability is concerned with the consistency of the measurement technique.
Measuring the BP in a different arm would not determine the reliability of the BP cuff because readings in different arms may be different physiologically.
Reliability is getting consistent results with the same instrument.
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