How to use articles about diagnostic technology: gastric tonometry.
OBJECTIVE
Periodic diagnostic tests and continuous and intermittent monitoring are integral to critical care medicine. The focus of this article is understanding the impact of existing diagnostic technology, as well as that of new diagnostic technology.


RESULTS
We use literature about gastric tonometry to illustrate eight steps for assessing the value of diagnostic technology.


METHODS
These steps focus on how the technology works in the laboratory, its range of uses and diagnostic accuracy, its impact on healthcare workers, the decision making process, and patient outcomes, as well as issues of access, cost, and application in your own setting.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness of the scope and quality of research evaluating new and existing diagnostic technology is central to modern critical care practice.
Keenan
S P
SP
Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario Faculty of Health Sciences Centre, London, Canada.
Guyatt
G H
GH
Sibbald
W J
WJ
Cook
D J
DJ
Heyland
D K
DK
Jaeschke
R Z
RZ
D002170:Canada; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination / Q000295:instrumentation; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008365:Manometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000379:methods*