Workshop on Diagnostic Test Methods

Background:
This course provides exhaustive knowledge in the principles and practice of Diagnostic tests to comprehend reliability and validity of a new diagnostic test, the biases and the challenges in designing a study and, critically evaluate a diagnostic study article. This course will also cover the basics of quality control methods in a laboratory. This course will include lectures and comprise a series of practical.

Course Objectives:

The learn the concept of what is disease
To learn the diagnostic thinking process and the phases of development of diagnostic tests
To understand the principles of Validity and Reliability
To be competent in calculating and interpreting diagnostic statistics, sensitivity, specificity, PPV,NPV
To understand the concept of Bayesian thinking and the basic Bayesian formula
To be able to calculate and interpret Likelihood ratios as well as post test probabilities
To be able to interpret serial and parallel tests
To understand the concepts of ruling in or ruling out disease with respect to ideal cut-off points
To learn ROC curves-principles and interpretation
To interpret screening tests and their use and pitfalls
To be able to critically appraise an article on Diagnostic test accuracy
To be able to understand the concept and critically appraise a diagnostic systematic review
To introduce the concept of health technology assessment

Who should apply?
This course is tailored to medical college faculty who are post, allied health professionals, nonmedical faculty, and/or researchers actively involved in diagnostic test research (validity and reliability studies), or teaching institution or in furthering their knowledge and skills in methodology.

WHOM:
The target audience is Government medical college doctors who are post MD/MS, teaching faculty.

Venue:
The Stem Cell Research Center,
Christian Medical College,
Bagayam,
Vellore, Tamilnadu,
India.

For registration, click here

HOW:
1. The number of participants will be 30
2. The application process is online and can be accessed from the CEU CMC Vellore website, www.clinepi.cmcvellore.org/ or the BVMC website, www.bvmc.in. The last day for applying online is 15/11/2019 before 6 PM.
3. Eligibility criteria

Confirmed faculty of a Government medical college in India
Assistant/ Associate or Professor level
Should write a short note on how this workshop will benefit the participant and their teaching of students
The applications will be scrutinized by the CDSA-CMC team and the final list of 30 participants will be informed by 18/11/2019.
Train travel (3rd AC, local transport, Shared accommodation, workshop material and food expenses for the 3 days will be taken care of by CDSA

Workshop Content

Research questions and study designs
What is disease?
How do we diagnose?
Diagnostic Study Designs-Phases
Tests as part of a clinical pathway
Types of Validity & Reliability
The Diagnostic studies Statistics: SN, SP, PPV NPV, Effect of prevalence
Diagnostic odds P value and LR, Bayesian
Indeterminate, Intermediate, un-interpretable results
Bias in diagnostic study including Spectrum Bias, Verification Bias
Critical appraisal
Sample size calculation
Parallel and Multiple tests
Philosophy of ROC
How to construct ROC Curve
Choosing he ideal cut-off points Using LR, ROC
Comparing two tests using ROC Curve
Economics and diagnostic tests, Health tech assessment
Systematic Reviews of diagnostic studies and MA
Diagnostic SR critical appraisal

FACULTY:

The faculty for the course includes renowned epidemiologists, statisticians and physicians trained in clinical epidemiology from CMC, Vellore. The detailed list of faculty and the complete brochure is available here