Letters
Clinical prediction rules
Assessing properly the usefulness of clinical prediction rules and tests
BMJ 2012; 344 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e1238 (Published 21 February 2012) Cite this as: BMJ 2012;344:e1238
- Huw Llewelyn, general physician and endocrinologist1
- 1Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny NP7 7EG, UK
- huw.llewelyn{at}orange.net
Clinical prediction rules and other “tests” should be assessed not only in terms of sensitivity and specificity,1 which show only how a test detects a single diagnosis in a defined population. Sensitivity is often set high and specificity low, so that a positive result suggests only a differential diagnosis. A …
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