Table 3 The distribution of professors and researchers by their reason for choosing an index
From: The knowledge and use of population-based methods for caries detection
VARIABLES | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
REASON FOR CHOOSING AN INDEX a | ||
Comparability | 31 | 66.0 |
WHO or MS recommended | 26 | 55.3 |
Very well known | 14 | 29.8 |
Easy to apply | 10 | 21.3 |
ADVANTAGES OF THE DMF | ||
Easy to apply | 19 | 40.4 |
Comparability | 18 | 38.3 |
Very well known | 9 | 19.1 |
Others | 1 | 2.2 |
DISADVANTAGES OF THE DMF | ||
Does not assess enamel lesions | 19 | 40.4 |
Underestimates caries prevalence | 9 | 19.2 |
Mean value does not discriminate components | 7 | 14.9 |
Others | 12 | 25.5 |
REASONS FOR NOT USING AN INDEX | ||
Difficult to apply | 15 | 31.9 |
Complex | 13 | 27.7 |
Difficult calibration | 7 | 14.9 |
Time consuming | 7 | 14.9 |
Others | 5 | 10.6 |
REASONS FOR PREFERRING AN INDEX | ||
Ease of application | 2 | 25.5 |
Comparability | 10 | 21.3 |
More accurately evaluates caries | 7 | 14.9 |
Speed | 6 | 12.8 |
Others | 12 | 25.5 |
WOULD USE AN INDEX OTHER THAN THE DMF | ||
Yes | 42 | 89.4 |
No | 5 | 10.6 |