Evidence-Based Practice in the Diagnostic Process

LE Evaluation

EBP

• best research evidence

• patient values

• clinical expertise

meta analysis

Technique that combines the results of similar high-quality research studies and draws a conclusion based on statistical results.

systematic review

A literature review that critiques and synthesizes high-quality research relating to a specific, focused question.

randomized clinical trials

• A research technique in which subjects are randomly assigned to an experimental or control group.

• The experimental group receives the treatment. The control group does not.

• The results for each group are statistically compared to identify any differences.

cohort studies

• Two groups, one that receives the treatment and one that does not, are studied forward over time to determine the impact of the treatment

case-control studies

• Groups are studied from a historical perspective.

• Differences between patients with the specified condition (the case group) and without the specified condition (the control group) are identified.

case series

A report on a series of patients with a particular condition; no control group is used.

expert opinion

• An opinion based on general principles, animal- or human-based laboratory research, physiology, and clinical experience

reliability

how often the same results are obtained

Intrarater reliability

How consistently will the same examiner get the same results (+/–) of a test?

Interrater reliability

How consistently will different examiners get the same results (+/–) of a test?

kappa coefficient

• Accounts for differences attributed to chance alone

• Used when a statistician determines the percentage agreement of positive or negative findings for procedures that produce a “yes/no” or “true/false” result

intraclass correlation coefficient

Reliability between two or more repeated interval measurements (e.g., temperature) or ratio measurements (e.g., range of motion)

prevalence

the extent to which a condition is present in a population; can change depending on the group

pretest probability

the likelihood that a specific condition is present before the diagnostic test results are known