This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Kropmans, Th.J.B. Articles by de Bont, L.G.M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kropmans, Th.J.B. Articles by de Bont, L.G.M. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Smallest Detectable Difference in Outcome Variables Related to Painful Restriction of the Temporomandibular Joint

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands

P.U. Dijkstra

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands

B. Stegenga

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands

R. Stewart

Northern Center for Human Health Care Research, University of Groningen

L.G.M. de Bont

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Groningen, P.O. Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands

The smallest detectable difference is the smallest statistically significant change in measurement results. In the field of temporomandibular disorders, the smallest detectable difference is not a commonly used concept. Most outcome studies are based on comparisons of group means, although this does not provide information about individual changes or about the clinical relevance thereof. The smallest detectable difference for maximal mouth opening was calculated from previously published reliability coefficients and the standard deviations of different samples of healthy subjects and patients with complaints of the temporomandibular joint. The smallest detectable difference of pain intensity measured with different visual analogue scales was calculated from the reliability coefficients and standard deviations of a heterogeneous group of pain patients. The smallest detectable difference of function impairment was calculated for a group of patients with complaints of the temporomandibular joint. For maximal mouth opening in healthy subjects, the smallest detectable difference was 5 mm. Repeated measurements improved it to 3 mm. The smallest detectable difference on a visual analogue scale was 28 mm for actual pain intensity and 22 mm for minimal pain as well as for maximal pain intensity. For total function impairment of patients with complaints of the temporomandibular joint, the smallest detectable difference was 8 units on a 0 to 68 scale.

Key Words: therapeutic outcome • statistics • generalizability study • decision study • clinical decision • evidence-based medicine • reliability

Journal of Dental Research, Vol. 78, No. 3, 784-789 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/00220345990780031101


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Th.J.B. Kropmans, P.U. Dijkstra, A. van Veen, B. Stegenga, and L.G.M. de Bont The Smallest Detectable Difference of Mandibular Function Impairment in Patients with a Painfully Restricted Temporomandibular Joint Journal of Dental Research, August 1, 1999; 78(8): 1445 - 1449. [Abstract] [PDF]