Reporting Standards for Diagnostic Testing: Guidance for Authors From Editors of Respiratory, Sleep, and Critical Care Journals

Ost, David E.; Feller-Kopman, David J.; Gonzalez, Anne V.; Grosu, Horiana B.; Herth, Felix; Mazzone, Peter; Park, John E. S.; Porcel, José M.; Shojaee, Samira; Tsiligianni, Ioana; Vachani, Anil; Bernstein, Jonathan; Branson, Richard; Flume, Patrick A.; Akdis, Cezmi A.; Kolb, Martin; Portela, Esther Barreiro; Smyth, Alan

Abstract

Diagnostic testing is fundamental to medicine. However, studies of diagnostic testing in respiratory medicine vary significantly in terms of their methodology, definitions, and reporting of results. This has led to often conflicting or ambiguous results. To address this issue, a group of 20 respiratory journal editors worked to develop reporting standards for studies of diagnostic testing based on a rigorous methodology to guide authors, peer reviewers, and researchers when conducting studies of diagnostic testing in respiratory medicine. Four key areas are covered, including defining the reference standard of truth, measures of dichotomous test performance when used for dichotomous outcomes, measures of multichotomous test performance for dichotomous outcomes, and what constitutes a useful definition of diagnostic yield. The importance of using contingency tables for reporting results is addressed with examples from the literature. A practical checklist is provided as well for reporting studies of diagnostic testing.

Citation

Ost, D. E., Feller-Kopman, D. J., Gonzalez, A. V., Grosu, H. B., Herth, F., Mazzone, P., …Smyth, A. (2023). Reporting Standards for Diagnostic Testing: Guidance for Authors From Editors of Respiratory, Sleep, and Critical Care Journals. Journal of Bronchology & Interventional Pulmonology, 30(3), 207-222. https://doi.org/10.1097/LBR.0000000000000920

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 24, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Apr 10, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-07
• Deposit Date: May 11, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 11, 2024
• Print ISSN: 1944-6586
• Electronic ISSN: 1948-8270
• Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 207-222
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/LBR.0000000000000920
• Keywords: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/20555117
• Publisher URL: https://journals.lww.com/bronchology/Abstract/2023/07000/Reporting_Standards_for_Diagnostic_Testing_.3.aspx