背景與目的：臨床上除用口咬器來評估呼吸肌肌力外，近年來還常用吸鼻測試做為非侵入性量測呼吸肌肌力的另一種方法，以短暫且快速的自主吸氣動作測得單側或雙側鼻腔的壓力來反應呼吸肌的收縮力量。此方式具備簡單且易被接受的優點。本研究旨在探討吸鼻測試的再測信度與效度。方法：以10位健康之年輕成年女性為研究對象，平均年齡24.5±3.0歲。每位受試者以區塊隨機分配方式進行三種最大吸氣壓的測試，分別為以可攜式呼吸壓力表(Respiratory Pressure Meter)進行吸鼻測試、簡易最大吸氣壓測試、及以運動心肺測試功能系統(Vmax 229 Metabolic Measurement system)進行之標準最大吸氣壓測試，其中吸鼻測試的肺容積測量起始位置為功能肺殘餘容積(functional residual capacity, FRC)，其餘兩者則為殘氣量(residual volume, RV)。以級內係數(intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC)及變異係數(coefficient of variance, CV)探討再測信度，以皮爾森積差相關分析法(Pearson Product-moment correlation analysis)檢定三種測試之間的相關性作為效度之探討。結果：研究結果顯示三種最大吸氣壓測試均有良好的再測信度，級內係數介於0.94-0.95(P<0.001)。三種測試之間的相關度達中度至高度相關(r=0.65-0.85)，且均達統計之顯著水準。結論：吸鼻測試所測得之吸鼻壓力再測信度高，且由吸鼻測試測得之吸鼻壓力與口咬器所測得之最大吸氣壓之間呈現顯著之中度相關，表示此測試為一可信且有效的評估呼吸肌力的方法。臨床意義：吸鼻測試可提供臨床上無法執行口咬式呼吸肌測試方法患者的另一種選擇。

Background and Purpose: The inspiratory muscle strength is commonly assessed by noninvasive measurements of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) with mouthpiece in clinics. Sniff test, by occluding one or both nostrils during an inspiratory maneuver, has been developed recently as another noninvasive method. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reproducibility of sniff test and the relationship of sniff test and traditional MIP measurement with use of a mouthpiece. Methods: Ten healthy young women (24.5±3.0 yrs) were recruited for this study. Each subject completed three tests, sniff test and simple MIP test using a portable instrument without breathing loop tracing and a standard MIP test with breathing loop tracing. The sniff test initiated at functional residual capacity, while the other two tests were at residual volume. Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variance (CV) were used to test the reproducibility. Pearson product-moment correlation analysis was conducted to investigate the validity represented by correlation between tests. Results: The results revealed good reliability for all three tests (ICC=0.94-0.95, p<0.001). The correlation between each two of the three tests were moderate to high (r=0.65-0.85). Conclusions: The sniff test of good reliability had significantly moderate correlation with the standard method. Clinical Relevance: Sniff test is a reliable and valid method to assess inspiratory muscle strength, which may be an alternative method for patients who could not perform standard MIP maneuver.