Effects of training on odor judges scoring intensity.
OBJECTIVE
This pilot study was intended to test whether a training protocol improved validity of odor judges (OJs), with or without experience, and whether odorant types differed in error proneness.


METHODS
The OJs (four experienced, two inexperienced) completed a 4-phase training protocol based on the American Society of Testing and Materials standards (ASTM): (i) introduction to sensory scales, n-butanol reference, sniffing techniques; (ii) pretraining measurements; 20 samples of varying intensities of four unpleasant and three pleasant odorants; (iii) exercises assessing quality, intensity, ranking, and matching; and (iv) post-training measurements.


METHODS
Subjects' intensity scores were analyzed as the absolute difference from the 'true' intensity (ASTM n-butanol standard) using repeated measures ANOVA.


RESULTS
Training significantly (P = 0.02) reduced OJ errors. Experienced and novice judges did not differ in average errors (P = 0.99), or in improvement in error from pre- to post-training (P = 0.94). Improvement was consistent from pre- to post-training for all odorants except dimethylsulfide for which errors worsened (P = 0.01). Unpleasant and pleasant odorants differed (P = 0.006) in error. After removing water the effects of water control scores from the pleasant odorants, the difference was not significant (P = 0.26).


CONCLUSIONS
The OJs improved in their ability to assess odor intensity irrespective of previous experience. Training is recommended for all OJs prior to research trials.
Nachnani
S
S
University Health Resources Group Inc., Canterbury Drive, Culver City, CA 90230, USA. sushman@worldnet.att.net
Majerus
G
G
Lenton
P
P
Hodges
J
J
Magallanes
E
E
D001944:Breath Tests; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral / Q000193:education*; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods; D006209:Halitosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D012903:Smell; D013457:Sulfur Compounds / Q000032:analysis
D013457:Sulfur Compounds