QUADAS-2: a revised tool for the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies
Penny F Whiting, Anne W S Rutjes, Marie E Westwood, Susan Mallett, Jonathan J Deeks, Johannes B Reitsma, Mariska M G Leeflang, Jonathan A C Sterne, Patrick M M Bossuyt, QUADAS-2 Group, Doug Altman, Susan Mallett, Colin Begg, Rebecca Beynon, Jonathan A C Sterne, Penny F Whiting, Patrick M M Bossuyt, Mariska M G Leeflang, Jeroen Lijmer, John Cornell, Clare Davenport, Jonathan J Deeks, Khalid Khan, Paul Glasziou, Rita Horvath, Les Irwig, Petra Macaskill, Chris Hyde, Karel G M Moons, Johannes B Reitsma, Heike Raatz, Anne W S Rutjes, Beth Shaw, Toni Tan, Danielle van der Windt, Gianni Virgili, Marie E Westwood, Penny F Whiting, Anne W S Rutjes, Marie E Westwood, Susan Mallett, Jonathan J Deeks, Johannes B Reitsma, Mariska M G Leeflang, Jonathan A C Sterne, Patrick M M Bossuyt, QUADAS-2 Group, Doug Altman, Susan Mallett, Colin Begg, Rebecca Beynon, Jonathan A C Sterne, Penny F Whiting, Patrick M M Bossuyt, Mariska M G Leeflang, Jeroen Lijmer, John Cornell, Clare Davenport, Jonathan J Deeks, Khalid Khan, Paul Glasziou, Rita Horvath, Les Irwig, Petra Macaskill, Chris Hyde, Karel G M Moons, Johannes B Reitsma, Heike Raatz, Anne W S Rutjes, Beth Shaw, Toni Tan, Danielle van der Windt, Gianni Virgili, Marie E Westwood
Abstract
In 2003, the QUADAS tool for systematic reviews of diagnostic accuracy studies was developed. Experience, anecdotal reports, and feedback suggested areas for improvement; therefore, QUADAS-2 was developed. This tool comprises 4 domains: patient selection, index test, reference standard, and flow and timing. Each domain is assessed in terms of risk of bias, and the first 3 domains are also assessed in terms of concerns regarding applicability. Signalling questions are included to help judge risk of bias. The QUADAS-2 tool is applied in 4 phases: summarize the review question, tailor the tool and produce review-specific guidance, construct a flow diagram for the primary study, and judge bias and applicability. This tool will allow for more transparent rating of bias and applicability of primary diagnostic accuracy studies.
Source: PubMed