R Lee1, T MacFarlane, K O'Brien. 1. Department of Dental Medicine and Surgery, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: (i) To analyse the consistency of a group of orthodontists' treatment decisions and (ii) to identify factors that may influence this consistency. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SUBJECTS: Ten orthodontists. METHODS: The orthodontists examined 60 case vignettes and recorded their treatment decisions on two separate occasions. MAIN MEASURE: Inter- and intra-examiner agreement was evaluated with the Kappa statistic. RESULTS: The consistency within each orthodontist was moderate. However, between-orthodontist consistency was poor. CONCLUSION: It appears that there is marked variation between orthodontists in treatment planning decisions and this may reflect the lack of evidence for the effectiveness of competing treatments.
OBJECTIVE: (i) To analyse the consistency of a group of orthodontists' treatment decisions and (ii) to identify factors that may influence this consistency. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SUBJECTS: Ten orthodontists. METHODS: The orthodontists examined 60 case vignettes and recorded their treatment decisions on two separate occasions. MAIN MEASURE: Inter- and intra-examiner agreement was evaluated with the Kappa statistic. RESULTS: The consistency within each orthodontist was moderate. However, between-orthodontist consistency was poor. CONCLUSION: It appears that there is marked variation between orthodontists in treatment planning decisions and this may reflect the lack of evidence for the effectiveness of competing treatments.