Preparing 'Summary of findings' tables and grading confidence in estimates of test accuracy in DTA reviews

Article type
Year
Authors
Brozek J1, Santesso N2, Mustafa R3, Langendam M4, Schunemann H5, Leeflang M6, Deurenberg Gopalakrishna G6, Bossuyt P6, Scholten R7
1Cochrane GRADEing, Cochrane Airways
2Cochrane GRADEing, McMaster University
3University of Missouri-Kansas City
4Academic Medical Center - University of Amsterdam
5McMaster University
6University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
7Dutch Cochrane Centre, The Netherlands
Abstract
Objectives:
1. To review and discuss the current structured formats for presentation of summaries of findings for diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) reviews.
2. To discuss the interactive 'Summary of findings' (SoF) tables for DTA reviews and their applicability in decision making.

Description: Cochrane GRADEing and the GRADE Working Group have been collaborating with the Cochrane Screening and Diagnostic Tests Methods Group on the design of SoF tables and optimal presentations of information from diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) reviews. Several presentations have been found to be preferred and better understood by users compared to other presentations. An interactive SoF table (iSoF) has also been developed as part of the DECIDE (Developing and Evaluating Communication strategies to support Informed Decisions and practice based on Evidence) project to allow users to explore various scenarios based on changing prevalence of the tested condition. All these tools can be used to summarize concisely, and disseminate the results of a Cochrane DTA review, and provide information for subsequent decisions about the choice of tests.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop computers (tablets and smartphones are unlikely to be convenient enough to use with complex information). Participants will have the opportunity for hands-on experience with interactive presentation of DTA findings based on examples provided.