| This course generally |
| About this module |
| Preparation prior to the module |
| Effective search for evidence |
| Assessment |
| Reading list |
| News |
| Online queries or comments |
| Useful tools |
| Glossary of EBP terms |
| Calculator |
| Useful links |
| Preparation before each session |
| Diagnosis |
| Search etc |
| Therapy and Harm (RCT) |
| Therapy & Harm (SR) |
| Prognosis |
| Guidelines |
| EBHC1 |
| EBHC2 |
| Implementation |
| Current and past students only information |
| Lecture notes |
| EBP calculator |
Preparatory work for this session -
about 7.5 hours in total
1. Read the following paper on evaluating diagnostic tests. This is a basic paper covering the main points, and you should read it carefully. (3 hours)
If you are not confident about the following terms:-
- Sensitivity
- Specificity
- Positive predicitve value
- Negative predictive value
- Likelihood ratios for postive / negative tests
- Odds vs probability
- Prevalence of a disease
make use of the Glossary of EBP terms to help you.
2. Prepare as far as you can for the case scenario - you might not be able to provide an answer to all questions at this stage. It doesn't matter at this stage. You can download the case scenario and appraisal tool here. (N.B. Password protected for current students only.) (about 2 hours)
For this exercise, you will need the following paper:-Whooley MA, Avins, AL, Miranda J, Browner WS. Case-finding instruments for depression: Two questions are as good as many. J Gen Intern Med 1997; 12: 439-45.
3. Self-assessment test (2a) (about 1.5 hour) - Test your understanding of the paper and terms. You need a pen, paper and calculator before you take this test. It also introduces you to some new concepts. It may take you some time to work through this test. Let me know if you are completely stuck.
4. Self-assessment test (2b) (about 1 hour) - You will only be able to answer some but not all the questions at this stage. It doesn't matter at this stage. You will hopefully be able to answer them after next session. Again, it may take some time to work through - have a pen, paper, calculator ready. Have a go at it at any rate.
5. Please bring a calculator to your next session on diagnosis.
6. You will be given two more detailed follow-up papers at the end of the session, showing how diagnostic studies can be used in practice.
7. If you would like to look at real-life
examples of how likelihood ratios are used in practice, click
here..
This page is created and maintained
by Wai-Ching Leung
e-mail:-
wp102@yahoo.com
last modified Sep 2001