A review of methods for the analysis of diagnostic tests performed in sequence
Background: Many clinical pathways for the diagnosis of disease are based on diagnostic tests that are performed in sequence. The performance of the full diagnostic sequence is dictated by the diagnostic performance of each test in the sequence as well as the conditional dependence between them, giv...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BioMed Central
2024
|
| _version_ | 1811141121737228288 |
|---|---|
| author | Fanshawe, T Nicholson, B Perera, R Oke, J |
| author_facet | Fanshawe, T Nicholson, B Perera, R Oke, J |
| author_sort | Fanshawe, T |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | Background: Many clinical pathways for the diagnosis of disease are based on diagnostic tests that are performed in sequence. The performance of the full diagnostic sequence is dictated by the diagnostic performance of each test in the sequence as well as the conditional dependence between them, given true disease status. Resulting estimates of performance, such as the sensitivity and specificity of the test sequence, are key parameters in health-economic evaluations. We conducted a methodological review of statistical methods for assessing the performance of diagnostic tests performed in sequence, with the aim of guiding data analysts towards classes of methods that may be suitable given the design and objectives of the testing sequence. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for relevant papers describing methodology for analysing sequences of diagnostic tests. Papers were classified by the characteristics of the method used, and these were used to group methods into themes. We illustrate some of the methods using data from a cohort study of repeat faecal immunochemical testing for colorectal cancer in symptomatic patients, to highlight the importance of allowing for conditional dependence in test sequences and adjustment for an imperfect reference standard. Results: Five overall themes were identified, detailing methods for combining multiple tests in sequence, estimating conditional dependence, analysing sequences of diagnostic tests used for risk assessment, analysing test sequences in conjunction with an imperfect or incomplete reference standard, and meta-analysis of test sequences. Conclusions: This methodological review can be used to help researchers identify suitable analytic methods for studies that use diagnostic tests performed in sequence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-25T04:32:51Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:0978130e-74b0-4f75-a2db-4e31036dc460 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-25T04:32:51Z |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publisher | BioMed Central |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:0978130e-74b0-4f75-a2db-4e31036dc4602024-09-11T20:03:33ZA review of methods for the analysis of diagnostic tests performed in sequenceJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:0978130e-74b0-4f75-a2db-4e31036dc460EnglishJisc Publications RouterBioMed Central2024Fanshawe, TNicholson, BPerera, ROke, JBackground: Many clinical pathways for the diagnosis of disease are based on diagnostic tests that are performed in sequence. The performance of the full diagnostic sequence is dictated by the diagnostic performance of each test in the sequence as well as the conditional dependence between them, given true disease status. Resulting estimates of performance, such as the sensitivity and specificity of the test sequence, are key parameters in health-economic evaluations. We conducted a methodological review of statistical methods for assessing the performance of diagnostic tests performed in sequence, with the aim of guiding data analysts towards classes of methods that may be suitable given the design and objectives of the testing sequence. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for relevant papers describing methodology for analysing sequences of diagnostic tests. Papers were classified by the characteristics of the method used, and these were used to group methods into themes. We illustrate some of the methods using data from a cohort study of repeat faecal immunochemical testing for colorectal cancer in symptomatic patients, to highlight the importance of allowing for conditional dependence in test sequences and adjustment for an imperfect reference standard. Results: Five overall themes were identified, detailing methods for combining multiple tests in sequence, estimating conditional dependence, analysing sequences of diagnostic tests used for risk assessment, analysing test sequences in conjunction with an imperfect or incomplete reference standard, and meta-analysis of test sequences. Conclusions: This methodological review can be used to help researchers identify suitable analytic methods for studies that use diagnostic tests performed in sequence. |
| spellingShingle | Fanshawe, T Nicholson, B Perera, R Oke, J A review of methods for the analysis of diagnostic tests performed in sequence |
| title | A review of methods for the analysis of diagnostic tests performed in sequence |
| title_full | A review of methods for the analysis of diagnostic tests performed in sequence |
| title_fullStr | A review of methods for the analysis of diagnostic tests performed in sequence |
| title_full_unstemmed | A review of methods for the analysis of diagnostic tests performed in sequence |
| title_short | A review of methods for the analysis of diagnostic tests performed in sequence |
| title_sort | review of methods for the analysis of diagnostic tests performed in sequence |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fanshawet areviewofmethodsfortheanalysisofdiagnostictestsperformedinsequence AT nicholsonb areviewofmethodsfortheanalysisofdiagnostictestsperformedinsequence AT pererar areviewofmethodsfortheanalysisofdiagnostictestsperformedinsequence AT okej areviewofmethodsfortheanalysisofdiagnostictestsperformedinsequence AT fanshawet reviewofmethodsfortheanalysisofdiagnostictestsperformedinsequence AT nicholsonb reviewofmethodsfortheanalysisofdiagnostictestsperformedinsequence AT pererar reviewofmethodsfortheanalysisofdiagnostictestsperformedinsequence AT okej reviewofmethodsfortheanalysisofdiagnostictestsperformedinsequence |