Comparability of Naevus Counts in Adolescents
Author Information
Author(s): J.F. Aitken, A. Green, A. Eldridge, L. Green, J. Pfitzner, D. Battistutta, N.G. Martin
Primary Institution: Queensland Institute of Medical Research
Hypothesis
How reliable are naevus counts between different examiners and methods?
Conclusion
The study found high comparability of naevus counts between and within similarly trained examiners.
Supporting Evidence
- Agreement between the two examiners for total naevi was very high with an intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.96.
- Intra-examiner repeatability was also high, particularly for the more experienced examiner.
- Counts by computer imaging showed moderate agreement with nurse examiners but underestimated the total number of lesions.
Takeaway
This study shows that two nurses can count moles on kids' bodies and get similar results, which is important for checking skin health.
Methodology
Whole-body naevus counts were performed by two nurse examiners on 66 adolescents on two occasions, and counts were compared with computer image analysis.
Potential Biases
Differences in examiner experience could introduce variability in counts.
Limitations
The study may not be generalizable to populations with different sun exposure or naevus densities.
Participant Demographics
Participants were 12-year-old Caucasian adolescents from Brisbane, Australia.
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