Evaluation of a training programme for the PMA and the Gingival Index

Three examiners who had achieved inter‐examiner agreement using the PMA and Gingival Index parted for four months. After this period of time without contact only two examiners were still comparable when using each index. A training programme for use with each index was drawn up and used by each examiner to train a selected pupil. Two examiners were able to train their pupils so that there was inter‐examiner agreement between pupil and instructor. The third pair were un‐able to achieve consistent agreement with either index. It was concluded that the training programme was a useful means of instructing suitable individuals m the use of the PMA and the Gingival Index, but certain individuals may be incompatible.