Abstract
The test and retest opportunity afforded by reviewing a patient over time substantially increases the total gain in certainty when making a diagnosis in low-prevalence settings (the time-efficiency principle). This approach safely and efficiently reduces the number of patients who need to be formally tested in order to make a correct diagnosis for a person. Time, in terms of observed disease trajectory, provides a vital mechanism for achieving this task. It remains the best strategy for delivering near-optimal diagnoses in low-prevalence settings and should be used to its full advantage.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 386-9 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Family Practice |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 27 Mar 2013 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2013 |
Keywords
- Continuity of Patient Care/standards
- Diagnostic Services/standards
- Humans
- Patient Safety
- Predictive Value of Tests
- Primary Health Care/methods
- Quality of Health Care
- Symptom Assessment/methods
- Time Management/organization & administration