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The influence of observer calibration on radiographic periapical diagnosis
Author(s) -
REIT C.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
international endodontic journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.988
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1365-2591
pISSN - 0143-2885
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2591.1987.tb00592.x
Subject(s) - radiography , calibration , observer (physics) , medicine , dentistry , orthodontics , mathematics , radiology , statistics , physics , quantum mechanics
Summary. Radiographic periapical diagnosis is subject to considerable inter‐examiner variation. In the present study the potential of reducing this variation through observer calibration was investigated. Nine well‐experienced examiners were randomly distributed into three groups. Two of the groups were subjected to calibration measures according to different principles. Radiographs of 119 endodontically treated roots were examined at three occasions during a 10‐month period. Both calibration methods used resulted in increased examiner agreement. However, the benefits of the calibration programmes seemed limited. It was argued that this is due to the complex structure of the decision‐making process. A multi‐aspect view of decision‐making is proposed.