Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27080381›Full record

ArticleBMC research notes2016

The clinical utility curve: a proposal to improve the translation of information provided by prediction models to clinicians.

Duncan J Campbell

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC research notes, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

1 author.

Duncan J CampbellDepartment of Molecular Cardiology, St. Vincent's Institute of Medical Research and The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. dcampbell@svi.edu.au.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrediction models are essential to the development of prediction rules that guide decision-making, and comparison of prediction models with and without an additional diagnostic or prognostic risk factor allows assessment of the value of the additional factor in risk prediction. However, the many different measures described to translate the information provided by a prediction model do not readily assist clinicians' decision-making.

resultsThe clinical utility (CU) curve is proposed as an alternative method of communication of information from a prediction model to the clinician. The CU curve is essentially a derivation of the ROC curve that has sensitivity on the y-axis and the number needed to capture one case (NNCOC) on the x-axis. It provides information about the relationship between sensitivity and false positive rate over the full range of prediction score thresholds, and it also indicates the proportion of the patient population with an absolute risk below the threshold for 100% sensitivity that can therefore be classified as free of disease.

conclusionsThe CU curve is proposed as a means to assist the translation of model information to the clinician, in the hope that it will stimulate debate and, through refinement, assist the development of prediction rules with optimal clinical utility.

Indexed as

Models, TheoreticalPhysiciansROC CurveBiomarkers, TumorCoronary AngiographyCoronary Artery DiseaseDecision MakingFemaleHumansInformation DisseminationMaleMedical InformaticsNeoplasmsPrognosisReproducibility of ResultsBiomarkers, TumorClinical decision-makingPrediction models

Identifiers

PMID27080381
PMCPMC4832451

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.