Applying the results from diagnostic accuracy studies to enhance clinical decision-making

This article addresses how the results from diagnostic accuracy studies can be used to enhance clinical decision-making at the level of patients. A 5-step process is described that includes the following steps: (1) clarifying the goal; (2) performing an efficient and effective literature search; (3) critiquing the validity of a diagnostic study; (4) assessing the usefulness of the reported validity coefficients; and (5) determining the usefulness of the test for a specific patient. In addition to describing the essential features associated with these steps, a scenario illustrating their application is included.