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Course module: BMB530818
BMB530818
Systematic Reviews in Diagnostic Studies
Course info
Course codeBMB530818
EC1.5
Course goals
At the end of the course, the participant is able to:
  • Explain the rationale for performing a systematic review of diagnostic studies
  • List the key steps of a systematic review of diagnostic studies
  • Formulate a focused review question addressing a diagnostic problem
  • Understand the key issues when building a proper search strategy to identify relevant  diagnostic studies in electronic bibliographic databases
  • Explain the main types of bias in a diagnostic study
  • Assess the risk of bias in a diagnostic study using the QUADAS-2 instrument
  • Explain in words the assumptions of the bivariate random effects model for meta-analyzing diagnostic accuracy data
  • Interpret the results of the bivariate model with and without covariates
  • Fit basic bivariate random effects models in statistical package R
  • Interpret the main findings of a review in light of the review question(s) 
  • List the key advantages of individual participant data meta-analysis compared to traditional aggregate meta-analysis in the diagnostic setting
Content

Period (from-till):  This course is taught several times per year, during fulltime weekdays according to the following Schedule (Face-2-Face in Period A, Online in Period B):
Education form Startdate Enddate Registration period
Face-2-Face 29-04-2024 03-05-2024 BMS_P4_A
Onilne* 04-03-2024 22-03-2024 BMS_P3_B
*Online courses are only available for Epidemiology students following a full online programme.

Contact details: Educational Office Epidemiology
E-mail: msc-epidemiology@umcutrecht.nl

Registration:
Single courses — MSc Epidemiology (msc-epidemiology.nl)

Course coordinator:
Hans Reitsma

Course description:
The number of primary studies evaluating diagnostic tests is rising. Critically summarizing such studies in a systematic review is beneficial for health care professionals seeking the best evidence about the use of diagnostic tests. Reviews of diagnostic studies are more challenging because of more variation in questions & designs, specific sources of bias & variation, and the need to use more complex statistical approaches to meta-analysis. Several advances have recently been made in the methods to perform such reviews. In this course we discuss and practice the methods to assess the methodological quality of primary diagnostic test accuracy studies (QUADAS-2 instrument), the statistical models to meta-analyze the paired measures of test accuracy (bivariate meta-regression model of sensitivity and specificity), and how to critically read and interpret the findings of systematic review of diagnostic studies. The course consists of plenary presentations, small-group discussions, and computer exercises using the statistical software package R.

Literature/study material used:
-
  
Mandatory for students in own Master’s programme:
MIght be for a specialization programme of Epidemiology & Epidemiology Postgraduate
 
Optional for students in other GSLS Master’s programme:
Yes
 
Prerequisite knowledge:
In this course we expect participants to have a basic knowledge about the principles of diagnostic research. This includes the basic design of diagnostic accuracy, the various measures of test performance (e.g. sensitivity & specificity, predictive values, odds ratio,  ROC curves). Furthermore, computer exercises will be done using the statistical software R, so an understanding of the basic commands in R is anticipated (see also R tutorials listed under day 1).
 
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