One major statistical and methodological challenge in Judgment and Decision Making research is the reliable identification of individual decision strategies by selection of diagnostic tasks, that is, tasks for which predictions of the strategies differ sufficiently. The more strategies are considered, and the larger the number of dependent measures simultaneously taken into account in strategy ...

OBJECTIVES To compare the cost effectiveness of plain film radiography, computed tomography (CT), and endoscopy as initial diagnostic modalities in adult patients complaining of retained ingested foreign bodies. DESIGN A systematic literature review was conducted to determine key statistics for the analysis, such as prevalence of disease, prevalence of complications, and the sensitivity and s...

A previous economic test-and-cull decision analysis model has been strengthened and updated with current epidemiologic information. Created using Excel and PrecisionTree software, the model incorporates costs and benefits of herd management changes, diagnostic testing, and different management actions based on test results to control paratuberculosis in commercial dairy herds. This novel "JD-Tr...

BACKGROUND C-reactive protein (CRP) is widely used to detect bacterial infection in children. We investigated the impact of CRP test results on decision-making and summarized the evidence base (EB) of CRP testing. METHODS We collected information from the hospital records of 91 neonates with suspected sepsis and of 152 febrile children with suspected infection on the number of ordered CRP tes...

BACKGROUND For patients who continue to have seizures despite ongoing treatment, surgical resection of the epileptic focus may be considered, and can result in seizure-freedom. Currently, non-invasive tests provide information to inform the scope and positioning of invasive electroencephalography (EEG) electrodes. However, these technologies could replace intracranial EEG in at least some patie...

BACKGROUND Worldwide, seasonal influenza imposes a considerable health and economic burden. Clinical diagnosis of influenza-like illness (ILI) is complicated by non-specific symptomatology. Rapid flu tests (RFTs) impact treatment decisions and may improve patient care; yet, recommendations for RFT use are broad, and the performance of unaided clinical diagnosis relative to RFTs is unclear. OB...

creening is offered to apparently well individuals to identify those at high risk of a specific condition, for whom early treatment, more effective treatment, or information may be offered in order to improve health outcome or to provide opportunities for informed decision making. By definition, screening tests are not diagnostic tests and therefore cannot separate reliably those with a specifi...