The Journal of the Dental Association of South Africa = Die Tydskrif van die Tandheelkundige Vereniging van Suid-Afrika
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J. Dent. Assoc. S. Afr. · Sep 1992
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialComparison of the safety and efficacy of a combination analgesic Myprodol and Ponstan in the treatment of dental pain.
A comparison of the efficacy of Myprodol, a combination analgesic (Ibuprofen, Paracetamol and Codeine phosphate) and Ponstan (Mefenamic acid) was undertaken in a randomised double blind trial of 52 patients who underwent surgical removal of impacted or unerupted teeth. Pain scores were measured for patients pre- and post operatively by means of a visual analogue scale and data was analysed using the BMPD package on the ISM main frame computer at the Medical Research Council. The results indicated that although Myprodol and Ponstan were equally adequate and well tolerated in the control of post operative dental pain, Myprodol exceeded Ponstan in duration of analgesia and in the degree of pain intensity control experienced by the patient.
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J. Dent. Assoc. S. Afr. · Nov 1991
[Use of model answers in evaluating reliability of written tests].
The use of model answers (memoranda) for the evaluation at tertiary level of written test or examination papers generally is not considered important. Model answers, however, set standardized criteria according to which they can be evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the use of a model answer on rater reliability during the evaluation of written test papers in Community Dentistry. ⋯ The marks of each evaluator were correlated with those of the author of the question paper by means of Spearman's reliability co-efficient. Based on the marks allocated, interrater reliability between the lecturer and calibrated evaluators using a model answer ranged between 0.65 and 0.86 and the evaluations done without a memorandum or calibration gave a r-value of 0.59 (p less than 0.02). Although the quality of the memorandum is an important consideration, this study shows that the use of a model answer and calibration results in a distinct improvement in rater reliability.