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The effect of variation in methodology on the outcome of osteoarthritic studies
Author(s) -
Bridges Patricia S.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
international journal of osteoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1099-1212
pISSN - 1047-482X
DOI - 10.1002/oa.1390030407
Subject(s) - comparability , interim , variation (astronomy) , osteoarthritis , medicine , econometrics , computer science , geography , alternative medicine , pathology , mathematics , physics , archaeology , combinatorics , astrophysics
There is a great deal of variability in how osteoarthritis is scored and analysed. This paper compares several commonly used techniques of data presentation and analysis, using a prehistorical skeletal sample from the southeastern USA. It finds that these methodologies result in greatly different outcomes, not only in the overall frequencies of lesions, but also in the statistical findings and in which joints apparently have the most arthritis. It is unlikely that a consensus will quickly develop on how to deal with osteoarthritic lesions, owing to widespread disagreements on even such basics as scoring. In the interim, the best way to ensure comparability of studies is to present the most complete and least manipulated data possible, along with easy‐to‐interpret summary scores.