Using evidence-based practice to select diagnostic tests.
Diagnosis is a primary activity of hand surgeons and therapists. Diagnostic tests can be used to assist in "ruling in" or "ruling out" a condition to best direct prognosis and treatment. However, the assigning of the diagnostic label is not always obvious. Principles of evidence-based practice may help hand care professionals improve their practice in the diagnosis of their patients. Evidence-based practice can be defined in terms of five steps that serve the structure for decision making and ensure optimum use of clinicians' expertise in the diagnosis.
Roy
Jean-Sébastien
JS
School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. jean-sebastien.roy.1@ulaval.ca
Michlovitz
Susan
S
D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D003657:Decision Making; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results