scholarly journals Interpretation of diagnostic test results : pretest expectations, test interpretation and management decisions in routine general practice

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Houben
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Test Interpretation ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Management Decisions

scholarly journals Information Theoretic Quantification of Diagnostic Uncertainty

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Brandon Westover ◽  
Nathaniel A Eiseman ◽  
Sydney S Cash ◽  
Matt T Bianchi
Keyword(s):  
Information Theory ◽  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Probabilistic Reasoning ◽  
Test Interpretation ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Information Theoretic ◽  
Diagnostic Uncertainty ◽  
Point Estimates ◽  
Common Parlance ◽  
Test Probability

Diagnostic test interpretation remains a challenge in clinical practice. Most physicians receive training in the use of Bayes’ rule, which specifies how the sensitivity and specificity of a test for a given disease combine with the pre-test probability to quantify the change in disease probability incurred by a new test result. However, multiple studies demonstrate physicians’ deficiencies in probabilistic reasoning, especially with unexpected test results. Information theory, a branch of probability theory dealing explicitly with the quantification of uncertainty, has been proposed as an alternative framework for diagnostic test interpretation, but is even less familiar to physicians. We have previously addressed one key challenge in the practical application of Bayes theorem: the handling of uncertainty in the critical first step of estimating the pre-test probability of disease. This essay aims to present the essential concepts of information theory to physicians in an accessible manner, and to extend previous work regarding uncertainty in pre-test probability estimation by placing this type of uncertainty within a principled information theoretic framework. We address several obstacles hindering physicians’ application of information theoretic concepts to diagnostic test interpretation. These include issues of terminology (mathematical meanings of certain information theoretic terms differ from clinical or common parlance) as well as the underlying mathematical assumptions. Finally, we illustrate how, in information theoretic terms, one can understand the effect on diagnostic uncertainty of considering ranges instead of simple point estimates of pre-test probability.

Evaluation of Clinical Properties and Diagnostic Test Results of Cephalosporin Allergy in Children

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Ozge Yilmaz Topal ◽  
Ilknur Kulhas Celik ◽  
Irem Turgay Yagmur ◽  
Muge Toyran ◽  
Ersoy Civelek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Reaction ◽  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Drug Hypersensitivity ◽  
Maculopapular Rash ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Pediatric Allergy ◽  
Fixed Drug ◽  
Drug Hypersensitivity Reactions ◽  
Immediate Reactions

Introduction: Beta-lactams (BLs) are one of the most frequent causes of drug hypersensitivity reactions (HRs), and cephalosporins are a widely used subclass of BLs, especially in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical features and diagnostic test results of pediatric patients evaluated for suspected cephalosporin allergy. Methods: This study included patients who presented to our pediatric allergy clinic with a history of reactions attributed to cephalosporins between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2019, and whose diagnostic tests were completed for the diagnosis. Results: This study included 120 pediatric patients and 69 (57.5%) of them were girls. The median age was 38.63 (interquartile range 10.5–85.7) months. Reactions occurring within 1 h of drug intake were reported in 33 patients (27.5%). Reactions were maculopapular rash in 55 (45.8%) patients, urticaria and/or angioedema in 49 (40.8%), anaphylaxis in 11 (9.2%), severe cutaneous drug reaction in 4 (3.3%), and fixed drug reaction in 1 patient (0.83%). The most frequently suspected agent was cefixime in 41 patients (34.2%). In total, 30 (25%) patients were diagnosed as having cephalosporin hypersensitivity. Confirmation of HRs was also significantly more frequent among patients who were older (p: 0.000), who had taken the drug parenterally (p: 0.000) and with immediate reactions (p: 0.000). Conclusion: Cephalosporin allergy has been confirmed in approximately one-fourth of the patients evaluated for suspected cephalosporin allergy. Confirmation of HRs was significantly more common among patients who were older, had immediate reactions, and had taken the drug parenterally.

scholarly journals Using Combined Diagnostic Test Results to Hindcast Trends of Infection from Cross-Sectional Data

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. e1004901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustaf Rydevik ◽  
Giles T. Innocent ◽  
Glenn Marion ◽  
Ross S. Davidson ◽  
Piran C. L. White ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Cross Sectional

How Well Prepared are Students for Undergraduate Engineering Mathematics?

1995 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 352-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan A. Lawson
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Mathematical Competence ◽  
Rule Of Thumb ◽  
Undergraduate Engineering ◽  
Engineering Mathematics ◽  
Level 3

Many universities admit students to degree courses in mechanical engineering from a wide variety of backgrounds. The majority enter with a study of A level mathematics. An increasing proportion enter having previously studied for BTEC qualifications. The conventional rule of thumb which is used is that BTEC level 3 is equivalent to A level. In this paper this rule of thumb is examined by comparing the performance of A level and BTEC students in a diagnostic test, taken at the start of their course, and the results of the end-of-year examination. The results of students entering the mechanical engineering stream of degree courses at Coventry University in 1991 and 1992 are used to provide the data for this study. The diagnostic test results also show the key areas of weakness in the level of mathematical competence of many students on entry to universities.

COMPARISON OF FOURTH GENERATION ELISA AND RAPID DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR DIAGNOSIS OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS(HCV) INFECTION IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL.

2021 ◽  
pp. 15-17
Author(s):  
Stuti Kansra Arora ◽  
Mala Chhabra ◽  
Anuradha Anuradha ◽  
Arvind Achra ◽  
Nandini Duggal
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Rapid Diagnostic Test ◽  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Treatment Initiation ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Fourth Generation ◽  
World Population ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Blood Samples

Introduction:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has emerged as one of the major global health challenge affecting about 2 - 3% of the world population. Epidemiological studies have shown that HCV infection is a major risk factor for development of Acute hepatitis,chronic liver disease,cirrhosis and Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Early diagnosis of HCV is important to link hepatitis testing to care and treatment initiation. Aim:To compare sensitivity and specificity of rapid diagnostic test (RDT) with fourth generation ELISA Material and Method: This study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (formerly Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital from January 2018 to December 2018.Blood samples of patients suspected with hepatitis were tested using ELISA and rapid diagnostic test Results: In our study 26378 blood samples were tested for HCV,using fourth generation ELISA.Of these,581(2.20%) samples were found to be positive by ELISA.These HCV positive samples along with equal number of ELISA negative samples were tested by rapid diagnostic test. Sensitivity and specificity of the rapid diagnostic test was found to be 72.98 % and 100% respectively. Discussion:Rapid diagnostic test can be used during emergency hours but their results must be followed by ELISA test results in a tertiary care hospital.Reporting of false negative results should be minimized for rapid linkage to treatment initiation and to avoid silent transmission of infection.

scholarly journals Relationship between Students’ Diagnostic Assessment and Achievement in a Pre-University Mathematics Course

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 364 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Tan Geok Shim ◽  
Abang Mohammad Hudzaifah Abang Shakawi ◽  
Farah Liyana Azizan
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Teaching Style ◽  
Basic Knowledge ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Mathematical Concepts ◽  
University Mathematics ◽  
Mathematics Examination

Educators have always highlighted the importance of mathematics mastery in education for many years. With the current emphasis of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEMs) education, mathematics mastery is even more vital because it supports the learning and mastery of science fields such as engineering and science. Furthermore, in higher education, mathematics is essential because majority of the courses require the use of mathematical concepts in their learning. In recent years, many countries including Malaysia have seen an increase in the enrolment number of tertiary students. The increase in student enrolment has resulted in a population of students with diverse abilities, and this creates challenges for educators in providing instruction to the students. Educators need to detect students’ mathematical ability at an early stage before teaching them new content. One way to gather information about students’ basic mathematics skill is through the use of diagnostic test. Diagnostic test in education is a preliminary assessment mainly used to detect students’ strengths and weaknesses in learning. It allows educators to cater their teaching style and content to suit to the students’ basic knowledge. With researches indicating the importance and benefits of using diagnostic test in various subjects, it is important to further examine the use of diagnostic test in the local context of pre-university studies. This study investigated the relationship between students’ mathematics diagnostic test results and final mathematics examination performances at a public pre-university programme. The samples of the study consisted of 250 pre-university students and the data of the study were collected through a mathematics diagnostic test paper, a questionnaire and a final mathematics examination. The outcomes of the study show that there was a strong positive correlation between mathematics diagnostic test results and students’ mathematics achievement in pre-university.

scholarly journals Management Decisions in Nontraumatic Complaints of Arm, Neck, and Shoulder in General Practice

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 446-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Feleus ◽  
S. M. A. Bierma-Zeinstra ◽  
R. M. D. Bernsen ◽  
H. S. Miedema ◽  
J. A. N. Verhaar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Practice ◽  
Management Decisions

Clinical findings and diagnostic test results for calves with septic arthritis: 64 cases (2009–2014)

2018 ◽  
Vol 252 (8) ◽  
pp. 995-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Constant ◽  
Sylvain Nichols ◽  
André Desrochers ◽  
Marie Babkine ◽  
Gilles Fecteau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Septic Arthritis ◽  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Test Results
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