title: An assessment of diagnostic efficiency by Taguchi/DEA methods.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper is to propose a new, objective and consistent method for the calculation of the diagnostic efficiency in medical applications.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, a hybrid method of Taguchi and DEA is proposed. This method reflects the diversity of inputs and outputs by incorporating the stepwise application of sensitivity, specificity, leveling threshold, and efficiency score. A hypothetical case study is given which involves eight readers of X-ray films in clinical radiology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The selected pairs of sensitivity and specificity yielded two efficient readers. After super efficiency analysis, Reader 6 is found to be the most efficient reader.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The paper presents a new, objective and consistent method for the calculation of the diagnostic efficiency in medical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Resource Management, Dogus University, Istanbul, Turkey. mtaner@gyte.ed.tr
authors.forename: Mehmet Tolga
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Taner
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sezen
mesh_terms: D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D011859:Radiography; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity