title: A microcomputer program for critical evaluation of diagnostic tests.
abstract: We developed a microcomputer program that provides a Bayesian model of diagnostic performance and a simple decision tree model of clinical utility. We have used this program to review diagnostic performance and clinical utility for proposed new services at our 360-bed university hospital. We believe that significant benefits can be achieved if medical journals report complete data on test performance. First, this allows physicians to perform their own evaluations of diagnostic performance. Second, this allows physicians to evaluate clinical utility using either standard decision trees or decision trees that reflect specific clinical problems.
mesh_terms: D001499:Bayes Theorem; D003201:Computers; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software