Reducing decision errors in the paired comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of screening tests with Gaussian outcomes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Scientists often use a paired comparison of the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves to decide which continuous cancer screening test has the best diagnostic accuracy. In the paired design, all participants are screened with both tests. Participants with suspicious results or signs and symptoms of disease receive the reference standard test. The remaining participants are classified as non-cases, even though some may have occult disease. The standard analysis includes all study participants, which can create bias in the estimates of diagnostic accuracy since not all participants receive disease status verification. We propose a weighted maximum likelihood bias correction method to reduce decision errors.

Methods

Using Monte Carlo simulations, w

SUBMITTER: Ringham BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4015908 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature