Test Diagnostics
Purpose[edit | edit source]
The purpose of this page is to provide users of Physiopedia a quick reference to commonly used statistics in physical therapy practice. These statistics are often used to describe the effectiveness of special tests for disorders. Knowing the diagnostic accuracy of special tests is important obtaining an accurate diagnosis, and in turn maximizing treatment outcomes.
Sensitivity[edit | edit source]
Sensitivity is defined as the ability of a test to identify patients with a particular disorder. In other words, it represents the proportion of a population with the target disorder that has a positive result with the diagnostic test[1]. A test that are highly sensitive are most useful for ruling out a disorder, as people who test negative are more likely not to have the target disorder. "SnNout" is an acronym that can be used to remember that a highly sensitive test and a negative result is good for ruling out the disorder in question.[2]
Specificity[edit | edit source]
Specificity is the ability of a test to identify patients that do not have the disorder in question. In other words, specificity is teh proportion of the population without the target disorder who test negative for the disorder.[3]
Positive Likelihood Ratio[edit | edit source]
Negative Likelihood Ratio[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Dutton, M. (2008). Orthopaedic: Examination, evaluation, and intervention (2nd ed.). New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
- ↑ Flynn, T.W., Cleland, J.A., Whitman, J.M. (2008). User's guide to the musculoskeletal examination: Fundamentals for the evidence-based clinician. Buckner, Kentucky: Evidence in Motion
- ↑ Dutton, M. (2008). Orthopaedic: Examination, evaluation, and intervention (2nd ed.). New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
