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Diagnostic tests: improved interpretation
when accompanied by a clinical report

When the prescription of a diagnostic test is accompanied by a clinical report, the interpretation of the results is improved.

In some patients, examinations can be prescribed in order to establish or confirm a diagnosis.

In a report compiled by an Australian team, 16 studies compared the interpretation of a diagnostic test depending on whether or not the practitioner had clinical data on the patient. The findings of these 16 studies show that being acquainted with the clinical data significantly increased the proportion of accurate diagnoses, without having any negative effects on the interpretation of the tests.

Supplying clinical data with the prescription for diagnostic tests improves their interpretation.

©Prescrire June 2005

Source: "Examens diagnostiques : de la clinique pour un meilleur diagnostic" Rev Prescrire 2005 ; 25 (262) : 459.

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