Evaluating and interpreting the evidence for diagnostic tests
This module will teach students how to critically appraise and apply the best evidence on diagnostic tests. They will learn how to evaluate and interpret the diagnostic accuracy of tests and procedures in different settings. They will also learn how the evidence can inform screening and monitoring programmes.
The last date for receipt of complete applications is 5pm Friday 24th January 2025. Regrettably, late applications cannot be accepted.
The overall aims of this module are to enable students to;
- Understand the different purposes for doing tests, and the appropriate means to evaluate tests for those purposes
- Be able to formulate focused questions for different diagnostic problems
- Be able to describe the optimal study design to carry out clinical research for the investigation of those questions
- Be able to search effectively for papers for different types of diagnostic questions
- Be able to appraise diagnostic accuracy studies
- Have an understanding of reporting standards for diagnostic test studies
- Know how to appraise systematic reviews of diagnostic studies
- Be able to describe different forms of design-related biases in diagnostic studies
- Be able to understand and calculate various measures of diagnostic accuracy, including sensitivity and specificity and positive and negative likelihood ratio
- Understand how information from multiple diagnostic tests can be evaluated simultaneously
- Understand and be able to determine a basic sample size calculation for a simple diagnostic study
- Have an understanding of how to present results of diagnostic test studies visually and graphically
- Understand how results of research studies influence clinical decisions
- Understand how results of diagnostic tests should be communicated to clinicians
- Have an understanding of the adoption of diagnostic test services into clinical practice
- Understand the pitfalls and problems of screening programmes
- Understand the interplay of diagnosis and monitoring in clinical practice
Comments from previous participants:
"Good pace, good practice, good examples, good audience engagement."