A clinical prediction rule is type of medical research study in which researchers try to identify the best combination of medical sign, symptoms, and other findings in predicting the probability of a specific disease or outcome.[1]
Physicians have difficulty in estimated risks of diseases; frequently erring towards overestimation[2], perhaps due to cognitive biases such as base rate fallacy in which the risk of an adverse outcome is exaggerated.
Methods
In a prediction rule study, investigators identify a consecutive group of patients who are suspected of a having a specific disease or outcome. The investigators then compare the value of clinical findings available to the physician versus the results of more intensive testing or the results of delayed clinical follow up.
Effect on health outcomes
Few prediction rules have had the consequences of their usage by physicians quantified.[3]
When studied, the impact of providing the information alone (for example, providing the calculated probability of disease) has been negative.[4][5]
However, when the prediction rule is implemented as part of a critical pathway, so that a hospital or clinic has procedures and policies established for how to manage patients identified as high or low risk of disease, the prediction rule has more impact on clinical outcomes.[6]
The more intensively the prediction rule is implemented the more benefit will occur.[7]
↑McGinn TG, Guyatt GH, Wyer PC, Naylor CD, Stiell IG, Richardson WS (2000). "Users' guides to the medical literature: XXII: how to use articles about clinical decision rules. Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group". JAMA. 284 (1): 79–84. PMID10872017.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Friedmann PD, Brett AS, Mayo-Smith MF (1996). "Differences in generalists' and cardiologists' perceptions of cardiovascular risk and the outcomes of preventive therapy in cardiovascular disease". Ann. Intern. Med. 124 (4): 414–21. PMID8554250.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Reilly BM, Evans AT (2006). "Translating clinical research into clinical practice: impact of using prediction rules to make decisions". Ann. Intern. Med. 144 (3): 201–9. PMID16461965.
↑Lee TH, Pearson SD, Johnson PA; et al. (1995). "Failure of information as an intervention to modify clinical management. A time-series trial in patients with acute chest pain". Ann. Intern. Med. 122 (6): 434–7. PMID7856992.CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Poses RM, Cebul RD, Wigton RS (1995). "You can lead a horse to water--improving physicians' knowledge of probabilities may not affect their decisions". Medical decision making : an international journal of the Society for Medical Decision Making. 15 (1): 65–75. PMID7898300.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Marrie TJ, Lau CY, Wheeler SL, Wong CJ, Vandervoort MK, Feagan BG (2000). "A controlled trial of a critical pathway for treatment of community-acquired pneumonia. CAPITAL Study Investigators. Community-Acquired Pneumonia Intervention Trial Assessing Levofloxacin". JAMA. 283 (6): 749–55. PMID10683053.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Yealy DM, Auble TE, Stone RA; et al. (2005). "Effect of increasing the intensity of implementing pneumonia guidelines: a randomized, controlled trial". Ann. Intern. Med. 143 (12): 881–94. PMID16365469.CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Silver MT, Rose GA, Paul SD, O'Donnell CJ, O'Gara PT, Eagle KA (1994). "A clinical rule to predict preserved left ventricular ejection fraction in patients after myocardial infarction". Ann. Intern. Med. 121 (10): 750–6. PMID7944052. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Selker HP, Griffith JL, D'Agostino RB (1991). "A tool for judging coronary care unit admission appropriateness, valid for both real-time and retrospective use. A time-insensitive predictive instrument (TIPI) for acute cardiac ischemia: a multicenter study". Med Care. 29 (7): 610–27. PMID2072767. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Counsel C, Dennis MS, Lewis S, Warlow C, FOOD Trial Collaboration. Feed Or Ordinary Diet (2003). "Performance of a statistical model to predict stroke outcome in the context of a large, simple, randomized, controlled trial of feeding". Stroke. 34 (1): 127–33. PMID12511763.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Adams HP, Davis PH, Leira EC, Chang KC, Bendixen BH, Clarke WR; et al. (1999). "Baseline NIH Stroke Scale score strongly predicts outcome after stroke: A report of the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST)". Neurology. 53 (1): 126–31. PMID10408548.CS1 maint: Explicit use of et al. (link) CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)