Explains the mathematics involved in understanding and choosing an array of diagnostic and prognostic tests, in order to improve treatment.

Evidence-Based Diagnosis explains diagnostic, screening, and prognostic tests in clinical medicine. The authors' approach is based on many years of experience teaching physicians in a clinical research training program. Although needing only a minimum of mathematics, the quantitative discussions in this book are deeper and more rigorous than in most introductory texts. The book includes numerous worked examples and 60 problems (with answers) based on real clinical situations and journal articles. This book is a great choice for anyone looking to select, develop, or apply medical tests. Topics covered include: the diagnostic process; test reliability and accuracy; testing and treatment thresholds; critical appraisal of studies of diagnostic, screening and prognostic tests; test independence and methods of combining tests; quantifying treatment benefits using randomized trials and observational studies; Bayesian interpretation of P values and confidence intervals; challenges for evidence-based diagnosis; likelihood ratios and ROC curves.

For researchers, clinicians, and other health professionals looking to select, develop, or apply medical tests.

British Medical Association Book Awards 2009 - First Prize Winner, Primary Care Category Evidence-Based Diagnosis in Primary Care provides guidance on diagnosis in general practice, from the patient’s first presentation with a symptom to the final establishment of a diagnosis or referral for further investigation. The book is divided into two parts: • Symptoms; which details the steps necessary to reach a provisional diagnosis when a patient presents; and • Disorders; in which the more detailed assessment of that initial diagnosis is described. This is the first book to be written about diagnosis in primary care that attempts to base its guidance on the research evidence. Enough information is provided on each symptom, or condition, to decide on the pre-test probability of each possible disorder, and how the symptoms, signs and investigations alter those probabilities to allow a conclusion to be reached about the most likely diagnosis. Evidence-Based Diagnosis in Primary Care also explains the principles of evidence-based diagnosis – with special emphasis on the issues raised by attempting an evidence-based approach in primary care – and clearly demonstrates the power, and the difficulties, of an evidence-based approach. Many chapters also feature ‘red flags’ – elements of the history or examination that should alert the practitioner to the possibility of serious disease, which is vital for general practice.

This book for emergency physicians and fellows training in emergency medicine provides evidence-based information on what diagnostic tests to ask for and when and how to use particular decision rules. The new edition builds on the success of the current book by modifying the presentation of the evidence, increasing the coverage, and updating the current information throughout.

Clinical reference that takes an evidence-based approach to the physical examination. Updated to reflect the latest advances in the science of physical examination, and expanded to include many new topics.

This handbook describes the diagnostic process clearly and logically, aiding medical students and others who wish to improve their diagnostic performance and to learn more about the diagnostic process.