[Assessment of diagnostic procedures. Some comments about classical indices (author's transl)].
The assessment of diagnostic technologies, concerns today both clinicians and health care administrators. This assessment is based upon calculation of various indices measuring the informative value of diagnostic test: sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, predictive value. Despite their extreme semplicity, these indices can be misinterpreted and misused; in addition they are often calculated from very particular patients sample, especially when retrospective data are used. The main points which influence the value confered to a diagnostic test, the major bias to avoid designing such studies are pointed out this paper. The likeness between controlled therapeutic trial and comparative assessment of diagnostic technologies is particularly emphasized.
D003933:Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D013223:Statistics as Topic
Evaluation des moyens diagnostiques. Etude critique des indices mesurant la valeur diagnostique.