A reader's guide to the evaluation of screening studies.
In this article we will review how a reader should evaluate a screening study. A clinical problem involving screening mammography is presented. We then outline criteria to determine whether screening is appropriate for a given condition. A search for relevant articles is described followed by an outline of the steps used to appraise a screening study critically. An applicable study is examined in detail for such things as the quality of randomisation and outcomes measured. The results of this study are then applied to a patient considered for screening.
Earle
C
C
Departments of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Hebert
P C
PC
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008403:Mass Screening; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D011897:Random Allocation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016312:Treatment Refusal