NU EM - Author: Trevino J - Edited by: Ketterer A - Expert Commentary: Courtney M
Citation: [Peer-Reviewed, Web Publication] Trevino J, Ketterer A (2016, June 7). Incorporating Diagnostic Testing Into Your Clinical Decisions [NUEM Blog. Expert Commentary by Courtney M]. Retrieved from http://www.nuemblog.com/blog/incorporating-probability/
"How should diagnostic testing influence clinical management?
At the conclusion of the initial clinical assessment, one produces a suspicion for a particular disease process (i.e. pre-test probability). In cases where this suspicion is equivocal, diagnostic studies are ordered to provide additional information (i.e. increase or decrease the likelihood of disease) and ultimately adjust your prior belief with an updated suspicion for disease (i.e. post-test probability).
This process of honing your clinical suspicion can be represented mathematically as:
Pre-test odds * Likelihood ratio = post-test odds
What the what?!? No need to fret, this blog entry will explore the impact of diagnostic testing on disease likelihood by highlighting the concepts behind each term of the above equation..."