Fuzzy gold standards: Approaches to handling an imperfect reference standard

• Main Author: Walsh, T. (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2018
• Subjects: article; Bias; Data Accuracy; dentistry; Diagnosis, Differential; diagnostic accuracy; diagnostic error; Diagnostic Errors; diagnostic procedure; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; diagnostic test; diagnostic test accuracy study; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; differential diagnosis; gold standard; Gold standard; human; human experiment; Humans; latent class analysis; Latent class analysis; measurement accuracy; mouth; Mouth; Naïve analysis; narrative; Reference standard; Reference Standards; reproducibility; Reproducibility of Results; sensitivity and specificity; Sensitivity and Specificity; standard; statistical bias
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher
• ISBN: 03005712 (ISSN)
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2018.04.022

There are many challenging aspects to the design, conduct and interpretation of a diagnostic test accuracy study. Given the utilisation of digital technology in dentistry the issues and complexities of how these new technologies can be compared to potentially ‘fuzzy gold standards’ needs to be addressed. This narrative aims to provide the reader with a brief review of the nature of such studies, and in particular to introduce the reader to issues in the choice and use of clinical reference standards. Potential solutions to problems of differential verification and the use of imperfect reference standards will be provided. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd