Chapter 6: Assessing applicability of medical test studies in systematic reviews

K. E. Hartmann, D. B. Matchar, S. Chang

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Use of medical tests should be guided by research evidence about the accuracy and utility of those tests in clinical care settings. Systematic reviews of the literature about medical tests must address applicability to real-world decision-making. Challenges for reviews include: (1) lack of clarity in key questions about the intended applicability of the review, (2) numerous studies in many populations and settings, (3) publications that provide too little information to assess applicability, (4) secular trends in prevalence and the spectrum of the condition for which the test is done, and (5) changes in the technology of the test itself. We describe principles for crafting reviews that meet these challenges and capture the key elements from the literature necessary to understand applicability.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S39-S46
JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine
Volume27
Issue numberSUPPL.1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2012

Keywords

  • applicability
  • diagnostic test
  • prognostic test
  • screening test
  • systematic evidence review

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine

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