The differences in the means (mean DMFT scores, mean 'PA' scores, and the mean proportion of the periodontal condition) were analysed by an independent t-test (two groups) or ANOVA (more than two groups).
A sixth variable, Overall Comprehensiveness, was derived based on the mean proportion of the other five scores.
The mean proportion of correct responses was.80 (score range = .60 –.93), suggesting that the threshold estimate calculated in the training session was sufficiently accurate for most of the participants.
The resolution score is therefore conditional on the mean proportion correct.
Although our primary objective was to measure the mean proportion of offered food consumed by the children but we also measured the mean Hedonic Scale score.
This score quantifies the deviation between confidence and proportion correct on the basis of the formula: (p – e) ; where: (p) represents mean confidence rating; and (e) represents mean proportion correct.
There were no significant changes between the mean proportions of time spent on activities scored as 'social' for the early periods of the observation compared to the entire observation, a result that may be inconsistent with participants altering their behaviour as a result of being observed.
Continuous variables included in these analyses were: mean age, dose of zinc, duration of diarrhea before admission, proportion wasted defined as weight-for-age z score<-2, proportion stunted defined as height-for-age z score<-2, mid-arm circumference, proportion with fever, mean dehydration score, baseline zinc and proportion breastfed.
The proportion, mean score, or both were calculated for each item or category according to job category (physician, nurse, and other), sex, age, and type of facility, as well as the total.
Figure 2 shows the raw mean performance scores (proportion correct) for the control and intervention groups at times T0 (pretest), T1 (posttest), and T2 (retention test).
