Perceptions of tongue lesions by dental hygiene students and otolaryngologists.
BACKGROUND
Consistent perceptions of oral lesions by all professionals who examine the mouth would improve the poor survival rates from oral cancer through earlier diagnosis.


METHODS
Two techniques from perceptual psychology measured how 14 otolaryngologists and 85 dental hygiene students judged differences among seven tongue lesions. Multidimensional scaling produced a perceptual "map" showing the underlying dimensions in these judgments. Paired comparisons showed rankings of concern.


RESULTS
Otolaryngologists rated the lesions on the basis of size and depth; dental hygiene students on the basis of color and size. Otolaryngologists were more consistent than students, both within and between observers. The ranking of lesions from best to worst was different in the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Two groups of health-care professionals attended to different dimensions in making decisions about oral lesions. Variations of these tests could evaluate or instruct students in diagnostic skills relevant to oral cancer.
Gray
Lincoln
L
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Houston Medical School, 77030, USA. lgray@uth.tmc.edu
Herrin
H Keith
HK
Stiernberg
Charles
C
Novosad
Garland
G
Tornwall
Ruth
R
D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000379:methods; D010465:Perception; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012984:Software; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology*; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014481:United States