Penny Whiting1, Mariska Leeflang2, Isabel de Salis3, Reem A Mustafa4, Nancy Santesso5, Gowri Gopalakrishna2, Geraldine Cooney6, Emily Jesper7, Joanne Thomas7, Clare Davenport8. 1. Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK; NIHR CHLARC West, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK. Electronic address: penny.whiting@bristol.ac.uk. 2. Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 3. Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK. 4. Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, and Director, Outcomes and Implementation Research, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA; Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Canada. 5. Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Canada. 6. NIHR CHLARC West, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK. 7. Sense about Science, 14a Clerkenwell Green, London, United Kingdom. 8. Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To develop guidance for authors of diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) reviews to help them write a plain language summary of the results of their review. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We used a combination of focus groups, user testing, and a web-based survey. Participants included patient representatives, media representatives, and health professionals. RESULTS: We present step-by-step guidance for authors of DTA reviews for writing a plain language summary. This guidance is illustrated with examples of reader-tested sentences, explanations, and a figure. CONCLUSION: We hope this guidance will allow reviewers to present the findings of DTA reviews so that it is easier for readers to understand the results and conclusions. This will increase the accessibility of these reviews for various audiences.
OBJECTIVE: To develop guidance for authors of diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) reviews to help them write a plain language summary of the results of their review. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We used a combination of focus groups, user testing, and a web-based survey. Participants included patient representatives, media representatives, and health professionals. RESULTS: We present step-by-step guidance for authors of DTA reviews for writing a plain language summary. This guidance is illustrated with examples of reader-tested sentences, explanations, and a figure. CONCLUSION: We hope this guidance will allow reviewers to present the findings of DTA reviews so that it is easier for readers to understand the results and conclusions. This will increase the accessibility of these reviews for various audiences.
Authors: Sian Taylor-Phillips; Sarah Berhane; Alice J Sitch; Karoline Freeman; Malcolm James Price; Clare Davenport; Julia Geppert; Isobel M Harris; Osemeke Osokogu; Magdalena Skrybant; Jonathan J Deeks Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2020-11-06 Impact factor: 2.692