The accuracy and reliability of the Suchey-Brooks pubic symphysis age estimation method: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Title
The accuracy and reliability of the Suchey-Brooks pubic symphysis age estimation method: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Publication Date
2022-01
Author(s)
Schanandore, James V
Wolden, Mitch
Smart, Neil
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8290-6409
Email: nsmart2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:nsmart2
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1111/1556-4029.14911
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/31903
Abstract

Suchey-Brooks method has been studied many times with varying reports of accuracy and reliability. A systematic review and meta-analyses were utilized to quantitatively determine the accuracy and reliability of the Suchey-Brooks (S-B) method. A systematic search of PubMed and EBSCO health and medical databases was performed. Meta-analyses were performed to quantify the relationship between actual known age at death and the S-B method using Spearman's Rho and Pearson's r for (1) combined males and females estimates, (2) male-only estimates, and (3) female-only estimates. Overall correlation coefficient using Cohen's kappa, Spearman's Rho, and Pearson's r was also calculated to determine the interrater and intrarater reliability using the S-B method. Eighteen studies classified as moderate-to-high methodological quality met the inclusion criteria. The sample sizes were different for the combined male and female (n = 2620), male-only (n = 2602), and female-only (n = 1431) meta-analyses. The effect size of the age at death meta-analyses was large and significant for combined males and females (Spearman's Rho = 0.62; Pearson's r = 0.65), male-only (Spearman's Rho = 0.77; Pearson's r = 0.75), and female-only (Spearman's Rho = 0.71; Pearson's r = 0.71). The overall correlation coefficients of the interrater (Kappa = 0.76; Spearman's Rho = 0.73; Pearson's r = 0.80) and intrarater (Kappa = 0.81; Spearman's Rho = 0.91; Pearson's r = 0.83) reliability meta-analyses were large and significant. A significant degree of heterogeneity was present in all meta-analyses, with minimal evidence of publication bias. The meta-analyses results suggest the S-B method is highly reliable with a moderate-to-high degree of accuracy. Our results also identified sample size and accuracy differences between male and female individuals.

Link
Citation
Journal of Forensic Sciences, 67(1), p. 56-67
ISSN
1556-4029
0022-1198
Pubmed ID
34617597
Start page
56
End page
67

Files:

NameSizeformatDescriptionLink