Application of a Framework to Assess the Usefulness of Alternative Sepsis Criteria.

ABSTRACT: The current definition of sepsis is life-threatening, acute organ dysfunction secondary to a dysregulated host response to infection. Criteria to operationalize this definition can be judged by six domains of usefulness (reliability, content, construct and criterion validity, measurement burden, and timeliness). The relative importance of these six domains depends on the intended purpose for the criteria (clinical care, basic and clinical research, surveillance, or quality improvement [QI] and audit). For example, criteria for clinical care should have high content and construct validity, timeliness, and low measurement burden to facilitate prompt care. Criteria for surveillance or QI/audit place greater emphasis on reliability across individuals and sites and lower emphasis on timeliness.

SUBMITTER: Seymour CW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4765919 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature