Assessing change in the pneumoconioses using serial radiographs: sources and quantification of bias.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Butcher DF ; Morgan WKC ; Reger RB ; Butcher DF ; Morgan WKC ; Reger RB
• Description:
  Procedures for the assessment of pneumoconioses are described in terms of serial radiography. The assessment of progression in coal workers' and other pneumoconioses by comparing serial radiographs is a standard procedure. In spite of general acceptance of the principles involved, several sources of bias may be inherent in this practice. This study, designed to identify and quantify the various biases, shows that the assumed chronologic sequence of paired radiographs in regard to the position and disease stage existing for a given pair member can significantly influence the categorization process. The study demonstrates that there is reluctance to diagnose the regression of pneumoconiosis. Although it is not possible to eliminate all biases in the procedures, partial remedies are available. It is desirable to conduct trials with various readers to ascertain those who are prone to evaluate side-by-side interpretations toward the middle of the radiograph, resulting in a lower progression score, and those are inclined oppositely. Side-by-side readings which differ significantly from those determined by independent interpretation should be viewed with suspicion. Variability between readers will perhaps always be a problem. However, rigid initial training, as well as periodic checks to insure that reading habits do not change, will improve the validity and reliability of categorizing pneumoconiosis. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Lung Occupational Health Pneumoconiosis Radiation Respiratory System Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Coalworkers Bias Diagnostics Errors Lungs Methodology Pneumoconiosis Radiography Radiology Serial Films Variability

  More +
• ISSN:
  0002-9262
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article ; Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  ALFORD - Appalachian Laboratory for Occupational Respiratory Disease ; ALFORD - Appalachian Laboratory for Occupational Respiratory Disease
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  243-254
• Volume:
  98
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00032791
• Citation:
  Am J Epidemiol 1973 Oct; 98(4):243-254
• Contact Point Address:
  R. B. Reger, Statistics Branch, ALFORD, P.O. Box 4292, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1974
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  American Journal of Epidemiology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c767617d88a6359cd5175838fdabf323d51f706e9fd1906cdca5ba84415ee2dc3ae53d840e2057f06beaba89c1f07e2a51c50f30d83f593a2d3abff96ef03365
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/183938/cdc_183938_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 683.43 KB ]