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Which study type is that? A guide to study types

Study and experiment types for Health Sciences and Medicine

Diagnostic accuracy studies


A diagnostic accuracy study looks at how effectively a test can identify a specific condition by comparing its results to a gold standard. The study focuses on key metrics like sensitivity, which measures how well the test detects those who actually have the condition, and specificity, which gauges its ability to correctly identify those who don't have it. These studies play an essential role in deciding whether a new test can replace or complement existing methods in clinical practice.

diagnostic accuracy study

Further reading and resources

  • Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Version 2 for Cochrane Account Required Link
     
  • Cohen, J. F., Korevaar, D. A., Altman, D. G., Bruns, D. E., Gatsonis, C. A., Hooft, L., ... & Bossuyt, P. M. (2016). STARD 2015 guidelines for reporting diagnostic accuracy studies: explanation and elaboration. BMJ open, 6(11), e012799. Full Text
     
  • Macaskill, P., Gatsonis, C., Deeks, J., Harbord, R., & Takwoingi, Y. (2010). Cochrane handbook for systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy. Full Text
     
  • Mander, G. T., & Munn, Z. (2021). Understanding diagnostic test accuracy studies and systematic reviews: A primer for medical radiation technologists. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 52(2), 286-294. Full Text

Searching for diagnostic accuracy studies

Golder, S., Glanville, J. (2018). Searching for Diagnostic Test Accuracy Studies. In: Biondi-Zoccai, G. (eds) Diagnostic Meta-Analysis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78966-8_7 Full Text
 

Example

Pereira, R. A., Nunes, R. S., Junior, J. E., & Gimenes, F. R. E. (2024). Accuracy and costs of bedside methods for confirming nasoenteral feeding tube position: a diagnostic accuracy study. Journal of Ultrasound, 1-9. Full Text

 

 


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