title: The methodological quality of diagnostic test accuracy studies for musculoskeletal conditions can be improved.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide an overview of reporting and methodological quality in diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) studies in the musculoskeletal field and evaluate the use of the QUality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS) checklist.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review identified all systematic reviews that evaluated the accuracy of clinical tests to diagnose musculoskeletal conditions and used the QUADAS checklist. Two authors screened all identified reviews and extracted data on the target condition, index tests, reference standard, included studies, and QUADAS items. A descriptive analysis of the QUADAS checklist was performed, along with Rasch analysis to examine the construct validity and internal reliability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 19 systematic reviews were included, which provided data on individual items of the QUADAS checklist for 392 DTA studies. In the musculoskeletal field, uninterpretable or intermediate test results are commonly not reported, with 175 (45%) studies scoring "no" to this item. The proportion of studies fulfilling certain items varied from 22% (item 11) to 91% (item 3). The interrater reliability of the QUADAS checklist was good and Rasch analysis showed excellent construct validity and internal consistency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This overview identified areas where the reporting and performance of diagnostic studies within the musculoskeletal field can be improved.
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Level 13, 321 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia; Institute of Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address: henschke@uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Henschke
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Level 13, 321 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keuerleber
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Level 13, 321 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Division, The George Institute for Global Health, Level 13, 321 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.affiliation: Department of General Practice, Erasmus MC, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, 3015 GJ Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arianne P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Verhagen
mesh_terms: D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: Diagnosis; Musculoskeletal; QUADAS; Rasch analysis; Study quality; Systematic review