IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/medema/v24y2004i3p313-318.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

From Diagnostic Accuracy to Accurate Diagnosis: Interpreting a Test Result with Confidence

Author

Listed:
  • Guangyong Zou

    (Robarts Research Institute and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada)

Abstract

Background . The Standard for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy statement promotes the reporting of confidence intervals (CIs) for indices of diagnostic test accuracy. However, these indices must be combined with an estimate of pretest probability to properly interpret the results of such tests, thus yielding positive and negative predictive values. For small sample sizes, CI estimation for predictive values based on the classical logit transformation has been found to be very conservative. A method based on computer simulation has therefore been suggested as an alternative. Methods . ACI procedure for predictive values that yields limits completely contained in those provided by the logit transformation is proposed and evaluated. Results . The proposed approach to CI construction maintains nominal coverage very well even when sample sizes are small. Conclusion . Accurate CIs for positive and negative predictive values can be obtained without using computer simulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Guangyong Zou, 2004. "From Diagnostic Accuracy to Accurate Diagnosis: Interpreting a Test Result with Confidence," Medical Decision Making, , vol. 24(3), pages 313-318, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:medema:v:24:y:2004:i:3:p:313-318
    DOI: 10.1177/0272989X04265483
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0272989X04265483
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/0272989X04265483?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:medema:v:24:y:2004:i:3:p:313-318. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.