European Journal of Epidemiology

, Volume 25, Issue 3, pp 151–154 | Cite as

Quantifying the value of markers in screening programmes

  • Søren Dinesen Østergaard
  • Peter Thisted Dinesen
  • Leslie Foldager
Commentary
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Existing methods used to rank the value of individual screening markers in screening programmes are inadequate. We have developed a simple Screening Marker Index: (Screening Marker Index = Positive Predictive Value × Sensitivity). The Screening Marker Index proved to be superior to existing indices in ranking screening markers according to their ability to identify the conditions sought.

Keywords

Screening Sensitivity Specificity 

Abbrevations

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

NNS

Number needed to screen

PPV

Positive predictive value

SMI

Screening marker index

YI

Youden index

PLR

Positive likelihood ratio

NLR

Negative likelihood ratio

ROC

Receiver operating characteristics

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010

Authors and Affiliations

  • Søren Dinesen Østergaard
    • 1
  • Peter Thisted Dinesen
    • 2
  • Leslie Foldager
    • 3
    • 4
  1. 1.Unit for Psychiatric Research, Aalborg Psychiatric HospitalAarhus University HospitalÅlborgDenmark
  2. 2.Department of Political ScienceAarhus UniversityÅrhusDenmark
  3. 3.Centre for Psychiatric ResearchAarhus University HospitalRisskovDenmark
  4. 4.Bioinformatics Research Centre (BiRC)Aarhus UniversityÅarhusDenmark

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