Evidence-Based Diagnosis

by Thomas B. Newman , Michael A. Kohn

• ISBN13: 9780521886529
• ISBN10: 052188652X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-02-16
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Evidence-Based Diagnosis is a textbook about diagnostic, screening, and prognostic tests in clinical medicine. The authors' approach is based on many years of experience teaching physicians in a clinical research training program. Although requiring only a minimum of mathematics knowledge, the quantitative discussions in this book are deeper and more rigorous than in most introductory texts. The book includes numerous worked examples and 60 problems (with answers) based on real clinical situations and journal articles. The book will be helpful and accessible to anyone looking to select, develop, or market medical tests. Topics covered include: -The diagnostic process -Test reliability and accuracy -Testing and treatment thresholds -Critical appraisal of studies of diagnostic, screening and prognostic tests -Test independence and methods of combining tests -Quantifying treatment benefits using randomized trials and observational studies -Bayesian interpretation of P values and confidence intervals -Challenges for evidence-based diagnosis -Likelihood ratios -ROC curves

Table of Contents

Introduction: understanding diagnosis and diagnostic testing

Reliability and measurement error

Dichotomous tests

Multilevel and continuous tests

Critical appraisal of studies of diagnostic tests

Screening tests

Prognostic tests and studies

Multiple tests and multivariable decision rules

Quantifying treatment effects using randomized trials

Alternatives to randomized trials for estimating treatment effects

Understanding P-values and confidence intervals

Challenges for evidence-based diagnosis

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