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Differences in score and inter examiner variation between four organoleptic methods
Author(s) -
Jensdottir T,
Nauntofte B,
Rasch A,
Dynesen AW,
Lykkeaa JS,
Bardow A
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
oral diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.953
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1601-0825
pISSN - 1354-523X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1601-0825.2005.01105_60.x
Subject(s) - organoleptic , significant difference , mathematics , medicine , coefficient of variation , dentistry , statistics , food science , biology
Objective Organoleptic measurements are important tools for measuring halitosis. Many different methods have been applied, but an internationally recognized standardized method has not yet been agreed on. We hypothesized that four various organoleptic methods: (A) the open mouth method, (B) the counting method, (C) the ‘HA‐HA‐HA’ method (determining breath while the subject says HA‐HA‐HA), and (D) the glass straw method, may produce different scores and inter examiner variations. Thus the aim of this study was to compare the scores and inter examiner variations obtained by these four methods. Methods Five trained (UWE Bristol) odour judges (OJs) assessed the breath of 20 test persons (17–71 years) by the methods A to D (see above), in a randomised and blinded set up. The 0–5 organoleptic scale by Rosenberg et al . (1991) was used for determining the intensity of oral malodour. OJs were allowed to score in fractions of 0.25 score. Inter examiner variation was calculated as the average percentage deviation for the scores of each OJ (computed from the mean score of the five OJs). Results The mean organoleptic score of the 20 subjects differed significantly depending on the method applied ( P < 0.001). Method (A) produced a score of 1.20 ± 0.88, (B) 1.69 ± 0.83, (C) 1.80 ± 0.89, and (D) a score of 2.11 ± 0.92. Further a significant difference was obtained for the inter examiner variation between the four methods ( P < 0.001). The inter examiner variation for method (A) was 55%, for (B) 30%, for (C) 31%, and for (D) 26%. Finally a significant correlation was obtained between the organoleptic score and the inter examiner variation ( r s = −0.70, P < 0.001) becoming lower with higher scores. Conclusion Due to the higher mean scores and the lower inter examiner variation the glass straw method may be preferable for organoleptic research studies of halitosis.