This workshop is given on behalf of the Screening and Diagnostic Tests Methods Group and the Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy Working Group.

Workshop type: Training.

Objective: To enable participants to understand: (i) how evidence from diagnostic test accuracy systematic reviews can be used in clinical policy and practice; (ii) the pros and cons of relative vs. accuracy test accuracy; (iii) the pros and cons of likelihood ratios, AUC, sensitivity/specificity; (iv) what information should be included in the discussion and conclusion sections of a diagnostic test accuracy review so that the review can be informative for clinical decision-making; and (v) steps required to extrapolate from test performance to patient-relevant outcomes.

Summary:
The workshop will include:
• a brief introduction about interpretation of diagnostic tests and strategies for their use in quantitative decision making;
• interactive exercises to illustrate the concepts of diagnostic decision making.

Topics covered will include:
• Which comparison?
  Relative or absolute?
• Which metric?
  Sensitivity/specificity or predictive values or likelihood ratios or AUC;
  Summary or stratified results?
• Which domains?
  Just accuracy or others?
• Which outcomes?
  Testing and treatment implications.

Scenarios will be given, and then concepts will be worked through in small groups.

Intended audience: (i) Review authors interested in conducting diagnostic test accuracy systematic reviews; (ii) Users of reviews interested in learning about the use of evidence in diagnostic decision-making.

Technical level expected of participants: Intermediate.