The diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility of school dental screening using an index of treatment need.
OBJECTIVE
To test the use of an index in school screening programmes by assessing its accuracy in determining treatment need, and its reproducibility.


METHODS
Diagnostic accuracy was measured against a gold standard, inter-examiner and intra-examiner variation was measured by comparing the results of two examiners for the same subjects. Setting A large inner city primary school in Birmingham.


METHODS
570 primary school children.


METHODS
Diagnostic accuracy was measured by sensitivity and specificity values. Reproducibility was measured by using kappa scores.


RESULTS
The mean sensitivity for positive screening result was 81% and mean specificity for negative screening result was 97%. The kappa score for inter-examiner variation was 0.7 with agreement on decision to refer in 91% of cases. Intra-examiner variation was 11% for both examiners.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of the index was shown to be both accurate and reproducible and is advocated for use in school dental screening programmes.
Hetherington
I
I
Birmingham PDS, Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT, Aston, UK.
White
D A
DA
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D004739:England; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000175:diagnosis; D008403:Mass Screening; D015588:Observer Variation; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012571:School Dentistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014071:Tooth Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis; D014077:Tooth Erosion / Q000175:diagnosis; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis