Memory Joggers: Worksheet for Articles about Diagnostic Tests
1. Determine Relevance:
Is this article worth taking the time to read? If the answer to any of these questions is No, it may be better to read other articles first.
Based on the conclusion of the abstract or article:
- A. Will this information, if true, have a direct bearing on the health of your patients and is it something they will care about?
Yes (Go on) No (stop)
- B. Is the problem addressed by the diagnostic test one that is common to your practice and is the test available to you
Yes (Go on) No (stop)
- C. Will this information, if true, require you to change your current practice?
Yes (Go on) No (stop)
2. Determine Validity:
If the answers to all three questions above are Yes, then continued assessment of the article is mandatory. Study design flaws are common; fatal flaws are arresting.
- D. What is the disease being addressed? What is the diagnositic test?
Explain: _______________________________________________________________________
E. Was the new test compared with an acceptable "gold standard" test and were both tests applied in a uniformly blind manner?
Explain: _______________________________________________________________________
F. Is the new test reasonable? What are its limitations?
Explain: _______________________________________________________________________
G. What are the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the test?
Sens.= a Spec.= d
a + c b + d
P.P.V.= a N.P.V.= d
a + b c + d
| Disease |
Test |
|
+ |
- |
| + |
a |
b |
| - |
c |
d |
- H. In terms of prevalence of the disease, are the study subjects similar to your patients? Varying prevalences will affect the predictive value of the test in your practice
Yes No
Revision 1997: Information Mastery Working Group.
Adapted from material developed at McMaster University
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