Inter-rater reliability of the Oral Assessment Guide for oral cancer patients between nurses and dental hygienists: the difficulties in objectively assessing oral health

ConclusionsThis study showed low nurse –dental hygienist inter-rater reliability for the OAG and highlighted the difficulties in objectively assessing patients’ symptoms and oral health conditions. Therefore, rather than only relying on an objective assessment of symptoms by a clinician, assessments should also include patients’ su bjective reporting of symptoms. OAG will likely be used until a new assessment tool is developed. Objective assessment training and/or user manual development may be required to improve the reliability of OAG. The present training of one lesson a year is insufficient, and efforts should be made to i mprove this to get more reliable outcomes.
Source: Supportive Care in Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research