From: Defining the clinical pathway in cochrane diagnostic test accuracy reviews
Clinical Pathway Descriptors | Ever reported in any section (%) |
---|---|
1 Target condition | Â |
1.1 Is the target condition defined? | 33 (100) |
1.2 Are subcategories of the target condition defined? | 21 (64) |
1.3 Are the following aspects defined: | Â |
 frequency | 29 (89) |
 severity | 26 (80) |
 prognosis | 24 (74) |
 possible treatment | 29 (89) |
1.4 Is the relevance of the target condition explained in terms of downstream consequences? | 24 (74) |
2 Index test | Â |
2.1 Is the purpose of the index test defined? | 33 (100) |
2.2 Is the role of the index test defined? | 19 (57) |
2.3 Are test variations included? | 15 (46) |
2.4 Are test specifications defined? | 16 (49) |
3 Clinical pathway | Â |
3.1 Is the existing pathway of patients defined as: | Â |
 how patients might present? | 23 (69) |
 the point in the pathway where the index test might be considered | 26 (80) |
3.2 Are prior tests identified according to: | Â |
 clinical history and examination | 27 (83) |
 healthcare setting | 22 (66) |
3.3 Is the patient or population receiving the index test identified according to: | Â |
 Clinical Pathway Descriptors | Ever reported in any section (%) |
 stage or disease severity | 16 (49) |
 age | 12 (37) |
 gender | 12 (37) |
 has the patient received single or multiple assessments prior to index testing | 21 (63) |
3.4 Are alternative tests described | 27 (83) |
3.5 Is it explicit how the index test/strategy compares to the existing test/strategy? Items to consider are: | Â |
 are existing tests described | 20 (60) |
 is it clear if the existing test is current practice and/or reference standard | 19 (57) |
3.6 Is the impact of the index test on downstream clinical management action(s) explicit? | 17 (51) |
3.7 Is it explicit how index test/strategy when compared to current practice affects downstream outcomes? | 17 (51) |
3.8 Are the downstream consequences differentially described according to the 4 test accuracy categories (TP, TN,FP, FN) as follows: | Â |
 TP : is there effective treatment or further testing needed? | 14 (43) |
 TN: re-testing, FU and/or intervals | 9 (26) |
 FP: consequences to this group | 9 (26) |
 FN: consequences to this group | 8 (23) |