Facilitators: Heather Whitson

Learning Objectives:

1. To continue to investigate the relevance of utilizing EBM in the care of patients.
2. To construct a relevant clinical question regarding diagnosis for a specific problem.
3. To critically assess an article dealing with questions of diagnosis and to better understand likelihood ratios.

• Clinical Scenario

• Perrier A. Performance of helical computed tomography in unselected outpatients with suspected pulmonary embolism. Ann Intern Med. 2001 Jul 17;135(2):88-97.

• Brown MD. The accuracy of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay D-dimer test in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: a meta-analysis. Ann Emerg Med. 2002 Aug;40(2):133-44.

• Therapy - Critical Appraisal Worksheet (PDF)

• Fagan nomogram

• Online Diagnostic Test Calculator

• Users' Guide to the Medical Literature Interactive
  Click on Access UGI -- Click on Part 1: The Basics -- Select 1C2: Diagnostic Tests

• How to Use an Article About a Diagnostic Test