Basic residential course: April, 4 - 8, 2017, Gargnano, Lago di Garda, Italy "DIAGNOSIS: the pathway of a diagnostic test from bench to bedside".

Linked slide presenations by day:

4 April 2017

1. Course introduction (D Conte)
2. The architecture of diagnostic studies (D Conte)
3. Cochrane systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) (D Nikolova)
4. Small group exercises. Title formulation (G Casazza and D Nikolova)

5 April 2017

1. Validity, reliability, and reproducibility of an index test. Definitions and assessment (PG Duca)
2. Range of index test results in healthy people (D Prati)
3. Tutor-led methodological review of a medical article. Analysis of diagnostic studies: defining the questions, study phases, and designs (PG Duca and D Prati)
4. Reference standard (G D’Amico)  
5. Diagnostic test accuracy: the 2-by-2 table (G Casazza)
6. Tutor-led methodological review of a medical article. Analysis of diagnostic studies: patient selection, index test, and reference standard (G Casazza and G D’Amico)
7. Sensitivity and specificity (M Fraquelli)
8. Likelihood ratios (A Colli)
9. Tutor-led methodological review of a medical article. Analysis of diagnostic studies: sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio estimates (M Fraquelli and A Colli)
10. Small group exercises. Protocol development (1) (D Nikolova)

6 April 2017

1. Index test results: positivity and negativity criteria. The cut-off value (A Colli)
2. The receiver operating characteristic curve (G Casazza)
3. Tutor-led methodological review of a medical article. Analysis of diagnostic studies: the cut-off values (A Colli and G Casazza)
4. Pre-test and post-test probabilities. When is the post probability sufficient for decision-making? (A Colli)
5. Diagnostic accuracy and statistical significance (M Fraquelli)
6. Tutor-led methodological review of a medical article. Diagnostic accuracy study designs: case-control studies, cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, and randomised clinical trials (M Fraquelli and A Colli)
7. Sample size (PG Duca)
8. Small group exercises. Protocol development (2) (D Nikolova; Participants)

7 April 2017

1. Quality assessment QUADAS 2 (M Fraquelli) with small group exercises
2. Analysis and discussion of a DTA review:Platelet count, spleen length and platelet count/spleen length ratio for the diagnosis of oesophageal varices in patients with chronic liver disease or portal vein thrombosis (A Colli and G Casazza)
3. Clinical reasoning: diagnosis (A Colli)
4. Prognosis: diagnosing the future. The temporal dimension of diagnosis. (G D’Amico)
5. Treatment (C Gluud)
6. Small group exercises. Finalising a DTA review protocol (3) (Participants)

8 April 2017

1. Course summary (D Conte and C Gluud)
2. Small group reports (DTA protocols)
3. Plenary discussion (participants)

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Basic residential course: October 8-11, 2014, Gargnano, Lago di Garda, Italy "Diagnosis and prognosis: clinical and research problems. "
The raionale for the course is here. Please download and complete the Aplication form.
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Basic residential course: September 29 to October 2, 2013, Gargnano, Lago di Garda, Italy  “The architecture of diagnostic research and clinical reasoning” (cancelled)
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Workshop on 'Diagnostic test accuracy reviews': September 30 to October 3, 2009, Gargnano, Italy.