Key Points
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The use of diagnostic tests for diagnosis and screening
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The philosophy of screening
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The statistical tools for assessing the effectiveness of a diagnostic test
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The choice of the optimal diagnostic test
Key Points
Further statistics in dentistry:
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1
Research designs 1
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2
Research designs 2
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3
Clinical trials 1
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4
Clinical trials 2
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5
Diagnostic tests for oral conditions
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6
Multiple linear regression
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7
Repeated measures
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8
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
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9
Bayesian statistics
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10
Sherlock Holmes, evidence and evidence-based dentistry
Abstract
A diagnostic test is a simple test, sometimes based on a clinical measurement, which is used when the gold-standard test providing a definitive diagnosis of a given condition is too expensive, invasive or time-consuming to perform. The diagnostic test can be used to diagnose a dental condition in an individual patient or as a screening device in a population of apparently healthy individuals.
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Petrie, A., Bulman, J. & Osborn, J. Further statistics in dentistryPart 5: Diagnostic tests for oral conditions. Br Dent J 193, 621–625 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4801644
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4801644
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