8 Mar 2024
Three members of the network have published on inter- and intra-observer error in maxillary sinusitis recording methods in International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
The paper "An analysis of interobserver variability in the recording of maxillary sinusitis in human osteoarchaeological remains" has been published by Anna Davies-Barrett, Maia Casna, Derek Boyd, and Sarah Inskip in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.
The paper compares the accuracy of inter- and intra-observer measurements of maxillary sinusitis in three population groups using the Boocock et al. (1995) method. Statistical analysis of agreement ranged from 'moderate' to 'substantial'.
But a comparison of agreement on what type of bone change was present highlighted major discrepancies between researchers on their interpretation of specific bone-change categories.
This paper highlights the desperate need for improvement in the methods used to assess maxillary sinusitis, to ensure accurate comparison between populations analysed by different researchers. This is something the Bioarchaeology Network is currently working to achieve.