title: How to perform a critical appraisal of diagnostic tests: 7 steps.
abstract: The critically appraised topic (CAT) is a format in evidence-based practice for sharing information. A CAT is a standardized way of summarizing the most current research evidence focused on a pertinent clinical question. Its aim is to provide both a critique of the most up-to-date retrieved research and an indication of the clinical relevance of results. A clinical question is initially generated following a patient encounter, which leads to and directs a literature search to answer the clinical question. Studies obtained from the literature search are assigned a level of evidence. This allows the most valid and relevant articles to be selected and to be critically appraised. The results are summarized, and this information is translated into clinically useful procedures and processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Division of Cardiothoracic Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Aamer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chughtai
authors.forename: Aine Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cronin
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D008490:Medical Informatics; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D013223:Statistics as Topic