The Evidence Base of Clinical Diagnosis

"An invaluable reference ophthalmologists involved in conduting or interpreting studies on diagnostic research." (Eye News, 1 October 2010) This is a thorough compilation of clinical research methods and practices. (Doody's Reviews, March 2009)

Andre Knottnerus, Professor of General Practice, Maastricht University. He is involved in the Cochrane movement for drawing up tools for accurate diagnostic testing Frank Buntinx, Professor, Department of Public Health, Leuven University. He is one time chair of the Cochrane Collaboration Diagnostic and Screening Tests Working Group

List of Contributors, vii Preface, xi 1 General introduction: evaluation of diagnostic procedures, 1 J. Andre Knottnerus, Frank Buntinx, and Chris van Weel 2 The architecture of diagnostic research, 20 R. Brian Haynes and John J. You 3 Assessment of the accuracy of diagnostic tests: the cross-sectional study, 42 J. Andre Knottnerus and Jean W. Muris 4 Diagnostic testing and prognosis: the randomized controlled trial in test evaluation research, 63 Jeroen G. Lijmer and Patrick M. M. Bossuyt 5 The diagnostic beforeafter study to assess clinical impact, 83 J. Andre Knottnerus, Geert-Jan Dinant, and Onno P. Van Schayck 6 Designing studies to ensure that estimates of test accuracy will travel, 96 Les M. Irwig, Patrick M. M. Bossuyt, Paul P. Glasziou, Constantine Gatsonis, and Jeroen G. Lijmer 7 Analysis of data on the accuracy of diagnostic tests, 118 J. Dik F. Habbema, Rene Eijkemans, Pieta Krijnen, and J. Andre Knottnerus 8 Multivariable analysis in diagnostic accuracy studies: what are the possibilities?, 146 Frank Buntinx, Bert Aertgeerts, Marc Aerts, Rudi Bruyninckx, J. Andre Knottnerus, Ann van den Bruel, and Jef van den Ende 9 Standards for reporting on diagnostic accuracy studies, 167 Patrick M. M. Bossuyt and Nynke Smidt 10 Guidelines for conducting systematic reviews of studies evaluating the accuracy of diagnostic tests, 180 Frank Buntinx, Bert Aertgeerts, and Petra Macaskill 11 Producing and using clinical prediction rules, 213 Tom Fahey and Johan van der Lei 12 Clinical problem solving and diagnostic decision making: a selective review of the cognitive research literature, 237 Alan Schwartz and Arthur S. Elstein 13 Improving test ordering and its diagnostic cost-effectiveness in clinical practicebridging the gap between clinical research and routine health care, 256 Ron Winkens, Trudy van der Weijden, Hans Severens, and Geert-Jan Dinant 14 Epilogue: overview of evaluation strategy and challenges, 273 J. Andre Knottnerus, Ann van den Bruel, and Frank Buntinx Index, 285