Caveat Medicus: It’s Time to Re-Think Stratification, You May Not Be Helping
Background: The focus of the present Letter is on the large and seemingly fertile body of work captured under the umbrella of ‘patient stratification’. Objectives: I identify and explain a fundamental methodological flaw underlying the manner in which the development of an increasingly large number...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Biomarker Insights |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/11772719231174746 |
| _version_ | 1797826669212336128 |
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| author | Ognjen Arandjelović |
| author_facet | Ognjen Arandjelović |
| author_sort | Ognjen Arandjelović |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The focus of the present Letter is on the large and seemingly fertile body of work captured under the umbrella of ‘patient stratification’. Objectives: I identify and explain a fundamental methodological flaw underlying the manner in which the development of an increasingly large number of new stratification strategies is approached. Design: I show an inherent conflict between the assumptions made, and the very purpose of stratification and its application in practice. Methods: I analyse the methodological underpinnings of stratification as presently done and draw parallels with conceptually similarly flawed precedents which are now widely recognized. Results: The highlighted flaw is shown to undermine the overarching ultimate goal of improved patient outcomes by undue fixation on an ill-founded proxy. Conclusion: I issue a call for a re-think of the problem and the processes leading to the adoption of new stratification strategies in the clinic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:36:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-14c0242cd717408591145b856e376cbf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1177-2719 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:36:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomarker Insights |
| spelling | doaj.art-14c0242cd717408591145b856e376cbf2023-05-15T10:03:34ZengSAGE PublishingBiomarker Insights1177-27192023-05-011810.1177/11772719231174746Caveat Medicus: It’s Time to Re-Think Stratification, You May Not Be HelpingOgnjen ArandjelovićBackground: The focus of the present Letter is on the large and seemingly fertile body of work captured under the umbrella of ‘patient stratification’. Objectives: I identify and explain a fundamental methodological flaw underlying the manner in which the development of an increasingly large number of new stratification strategies is approached. Design: I show an inherent conflict between the assumptions made, and the very purpose of stratification and its application in practice. Methods: I analyse the methodological underpinnings of stratification as presently done and draw parallels with conceptually similarly flawed precedents which are now widely recognized. Results: The highlighted flaw is shown to undermine the overarching ultimate goal of improved patient outcomes by undue fixation on an ill-founded proxy. Conclusion: I issue a call for a re-think of the problem and the processes leading to the adoption of new stratification strategies in the clinic.https://doi.org/10.1177/11772719231174746 |
| spellingShingle | Ognjen Arandjelović Caveat Medicus: It’s Time to Re-Think Stratification, You May Not Be Helping Biomarker Insights |
| title | Caveat Medicus: It’s Time to Re-Think Stratification, You May Not Be Helping |
| title_full | Caveat Medicus: It’s Time to Re-Think Stratification, You May Not Be Helping |
| title_fullStr | Caveat Medicus: It’s Time to Re-Think Stratification, You May Not Be Helping |
| title_full_unstemmed | Caveat Medicus: It’s Time to Re-Think Stratification, You May Not Be Helping |
| title_short | Caveat Medicus: It’s Time to Re-Think Stratification, You May Not Be Helping |
| title_sort | caveat medicus it s time to re think stratification you may not be helping |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/11772719231174746 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ognjenarandjelovic caveatmedicusitstimetorethinkstratificationyoumaynotbehelping |