Premium
Examiner reliability for an invasive gingival bleeding index
Author(s) -
Blieden Timothy M.,
Caton Jack G.,
Proskin Howard M.,
Stein Sidney H.,
Wagener Charles J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of clinical periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.456
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1600-051X
pISSN - 0303-6979
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-051x.1992.tb00464.x
Subject(s) - dentistry , medicine , reliability (semiconductor) , index (typography) , gingivitis , dental prophylaxis , orthodontics , oral hygiene , computer science , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , world wide web
This investigation was undertaken to determine the intra‐ and inter‐examiner reliability of the method of stimulation for bleeding used hi the Eastman interdental bleeding index. 26 subjects were examined twice, J h apart, by either a single examiner or 2 examiners in each half of their mouths, for the presence of bleeding after stimulation with a wooden interdental cleaner. Scores were tabulated and intra‐ and inter‐examiner % agreements and x‐coefficients calculated. Z‐tests were performed on the pairs of agreement statistics to check for significant differences. Overall, intra‐examiner agreement statistics were high (91.3% to 93.1% agreement; 0.79 to 0.86% ‐coefficient). Further breakdowns of the data into facial and lingual sites by arch and location (anterior or posterior) resulted in similar levels of reliability, with no significant differences within examiners. The overall inter‐examiner agreement statistics were good (82.8% to 87.6% agreement; 0.62–0.75 kappa coefficient). When inter‐examiner data were analyzed at facial or lingual sites by arch and location, a significant difference existed in reliability for mandibular posterior lingual sites, but reliability was high in all other areas. These data demonstrate a high level of reproducibility for this method, which suggests that the Eastman interdental bleeding index is suitable for clinical trials and epidemiologic studies of interdental gingivitis.