Worksheet for evaluating an article about diagnosis

Assessing relevance

The test in question is feasible in my community and practice:  o Yes o No

Patients are similar to those I see in my practice, and included patients with varying severity of disease as well as other patients with similar presenting symptoms but no disease:   o Yes o No

Assessing validity

A reasonable reference standard was used: o Yes o No

Results of the reference standard were not known to the examiner: o Yes o No

Data were collected prospectively:  o Yes o No

All patients received both clinical examination and reference standard: o Yes o No

If no, were patients who didn’t get the reference standard followed up closely enough and long enough to convince you that they are free of disease?    o Yes o No

Usefulness

Fill in the 2 x 2 table for the diagnostic test: