title: Pneumatic otoscopy: study of inter-observer variability.
abstract: The degree of inter-observer variability in the results of pneumatic otoscopy, used to predict the presence or absence of middle ear effusion was assessed. A group of 114 patients with 209 suitable ears had pneumatic otoscopy using a Seigle's speculum performed independently by two observers. The results were compared to the findings at myringotomy, on the basis that mobility of the tympanic membrane was indicative of a dry middle ear. The observers agreed in 187 ears, a concordance rate of 91 per cent, and in 174 of these (93 per cent) the observers' prediction of middle ear state was correct. The overall predictive accuracy of observer A was 89 per cent and of observer B 84 per cent, this difference is not statistically significant, p greater than 0.05.
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Mains
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Toner
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015588:Observer Variation; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000473:pathology*