Inter-reader variability among readers using ILO 1971 and 1980 classifications of the pneumoconioses.
Authors
Althouse RB; Attfield MD; Hodous TK
Source
Proceedings of the VIIth International Pneumoconioses Conference, August 23-26, 1988, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-108, 1990 Nov; (Part II):1434-1439
A comparison was made between readings of chest X-rays evaluated by first and second readers on the 1980 International Labour Organization (ILO) classification of the pneumoconioses with those read in the Attfield study. Comparisons between first and second readers for each classification were made for the profusion of opacities read, the types of opacities read, and within each reader group, for the range of prevalence of abnormal opacities which they reported. X-rays of readable quality for miners with 10 or more years of underground mining tenure were selected from films read during 1981 through 1987 by the 1980 ILO classification. A group of 10,249 X-rays was selected. One hundred and eighty eight first readers and 20 second readers participated in evaluating the 10,249 X-rays. Under the 1980 ILO classification both first and second readers reported lower prevalence of category 0/1+ coal workers pneumoconioses, 12% for first and 4% for second readers. Using the 1971 ILO classification scheme, these values were 27% and 22%, respectively. The agreement between first and second readers on the same films indicated overall crude agreement within major categories increasing from 78% to 87% from the 1978 to the 1980 group. The agreement between readers in reading opacity type revealed some parallel to profusion readings. On both classifications, first readers reported higher levels of rounded opacities as a percentage of all opacities than second readers, for primary type. The authors conclude that a quality control scheme is needed to minimize the problem of reader variability. This need exists in relation to both first and second readers. A system of feedback, notifying readers of their standing relative to all readers is one possibility.
Keywords
Radiodiagnosis; Diagnostic techniques; Respiratory system disorders; Lung disease; X ray analysis; X ray diagnosis; Coal workers pneumoconiosis
Publication Date
19901101
Document Type
Conference/Symposia Proceedings
Fiscal Year
1991
Identifying No.
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-108
Source Name
Proceedings of the VIIth International Pneumoconioses Conference, August 23-26, 1988, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.
For more information on CDC's web notification policies, see Website Disclaimers.
CDC.gov Privacy Settings
We take your privacy seriously. You can review and change the way we collect information below.
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests.
Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data.
Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties.
Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page.