Objectives: The aim at the end of the workshop is that reviewers will:

Understand how to frame the question

Understand what eligibility criteria should follow on from the type of question.

Description: Systematic reviews on diagnostic test will usually be set up to inform decisions about using or selecting diagnostic tests. The diagnostic question to be answered has to be carefully formulated, and determines the appropriate research approach. Topics to be discussed in this workshop will include:

An explanation of the most relevant types of question
The key components to be included into the objective of the review
How to define and use the question components
The aspects of study types relevant to studies of diagnostic test accuracy.

The workshop will include:

brief presentations

small groups exercises and discussion using specific patient scenarios clinicians encounter on the hospital wards or in clinic.
Participants will have the opportunity to discuss and deal with complexity of clinical diagnostic questions. Training material will be distributed.
Target audience: Reviewers who are working on, or planning to start work on diagnostic systematic reviews.
Style: Training workshop