Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy Working Group

 


 

Cochrane Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy- FAQ

 

Aim

The aim of this document is to provide authors, Cochrane Review Groups (CRGs) and other Cochrane Entities with answers to some frequently asked questions about systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy and the Cochrane Collaboration.

Some questions have been labelled using prefixes 'CRG' or 'Author', to indicate if a question has particular focus. However these may be of interest to all readers.

If you have any more questions or suggestions for questions for this page send an email with 'FAQ authors', 'FAQ CRGs' or 'FAQ' in the subject line to either UKSU@contacts.bham.ac.uk or CESU@amc.uva.nl

 


 

FAQ

1.       What are CESU and UKSU?

2.       What kind of support can authors expect from the UK Support Unit (UKSU) and the Continental Europe Support Unit (CESU)?

3.       What kind of support can CRGs expect from UKSU and CESU?

4.       CRG: We do not want to register reviews of diagnostic test accuracy, it is not a priority for us now and we haven’t time, what should we do?

5.       CRG: We have an author who wants to register a systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy, what should we do?

6.       CRG: We want to register reviews but there is no regional support group for us yet what do we do?

7.       CRG: Should we be developing a specialist register of studies?

8.       CRG: How do we develop our topic list and look for ‘areas of common interest’?

9.       Author: I would like to prepare a Cochrane diagnostic test accuracy review. What should I do?

10.   Author: How do I find and contact the relevant CRG?

11.   Author: When can I register my title?

12.   Author: When can I start writing my protocol?

13.   Author: Is there a good search filter I could use?

14.   Author: What quality checklist should I use?

15.   Author: What is the difference between Cochrane systematic reviews of interventions and Cochrane systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy?

16.   What is the Diagnostic Test Accuracy Editorial Team?

17.   Author: What is the Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy Working Group (DTAWG)?

18.   What is the difference between the Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy Working Group (DTAWG) and the Screening and Diagnostic Test Methods Group (SDTMG)?

 


 

1. What are CESU and UKSU?

To be able to give CRGs and authors all the support they may need, four regional Support Units are to be created. Two of these are already active: The UK Support Unit (UKSU) based in The Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Birmingham University, UK, and the Continental Europe Support Unit (CESU) based in The Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Support units for Australasia and for North America are not yet operable.

Support is available for UK Cochrane review groups and other entities through the UK support unit (UKSU). Support is available for Cochrane review groups and entities in Continental Europe from the Continental Europe Support Unit (CESU).

For Cochrane review groups outside of the UK or continental Europe please contact one of these support units for an update on the status of the North American and Australasian support units.

 


 

2. What kind of support can authors expect from the UK Support Unit (UKSU) and the Continental Europe Support Unit (CESU)?

UKSU and CESU have been set up to assist CRGs with implementing the processes and methods for conducting systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy (DTA). The CRGs will support their authors as they do for systematic reviews of interventions. Of course CRGs will be able to seek advice and assistance with this from their support group and to pass on specific queries from their authors to the support group. Therefore we would prefer questions from authors to be sent via their Review Group Coordinator (RGC).

 


 

3. What kind of support can CRGs expect from UKSU and CESU?

The CRG can expect help with three aspects of preparing these reviews.

1.       Clinical relevance and usefulness of review questions,

2.       The methods for preparing systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy (SRDTA), including methods for searching, assessing quality and meta analysis and

3.       the editorial processes required to support authors for example how to use RevMan5 how the editorial process works and standard letters and documents for the editorial process. More detail about these below.

When a review group decides it would like to start registering reviews of diagnostic test accuracy it should contact its regional support group (UKSU or CESU) who will arrange for some induction training to familiarise CRG staff, statisticians and editors with the processes of preparing a review of diagnostic test accuracy.

1: Clinical relevance

The formulation of useful and clinically relevant systematic review questions is very important for Cochrane systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy. Before a CRG registers any review titles it would be advantageous to consider the scope of potential reviews for the CRG and to outline any reviews to prioritise.

We will be happy to discuss these with CRGs and to offer

2: Method of preparing systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy

It is important that editorial staff understand the processes their authors will use to prepare systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy. We are able to provide training on the following topics:

If a review group cannot attend training course it may be possible for the trainers to arrange to visit the review group to deliver training.

3: The editorial processes

The editorial process for systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy is different to that for systematic reviews of interventions. CRGs will wotk in partnership with the DTA Editorial Team who will provide methodological comments on all Cochrane systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy. This will include

 

Details of the editorial process for DTA reviews can be found on our website http://srdta.cochrane.org/

 


 

4. CRG: We do not want to register reviews of diagnostic test accuracy, it is not a priority for us now and we haven’t time, what should we do?

There is no pressure or rush to start to register reviews of diagnostic test accuracy. We prefer that each group start when it is ready and there is sufficient interest and resources within the review group to support these reviews. We are aware that CRGs manage large workloads and it would be important for CRGs to plan when would be appropriate to start registering systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy in order to ensure that they are in the best position to support authors. CRGs can write to any authors who contact them with a request to register a review of diagnostic test accuracy to explain their decision regarding systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy. It may be helpful to the author to include a date when this decision may be revisited.

Because there is limited capacity within the support units the support units are prioritising review groups to receive support and training.

Review groups should contact their support unit if they have any questions.

 


 

5. CRG: We have an author who wants to register a systematic review of diagnostic test accuracy, what should we do?

CRGs should not register diagnostic test accuracy reviews until they have organised induction training with their support unit.

Each review group must decide when they would like to start to publishing systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy. When a CRG decides that it would like to start to accept authors’ requests to register titles for SRDTA we recommend that members of the editorial team of the review group

Each CRG must contact their support group to before they start registering DTA reviews. CRGs in continental Europe should contact the Continental Europe Support Unit (CESU). CRGs based in the UK should contact the UK support unit (UKSU). For review groups outside of the UK or continental Europe please contact one of these support units for an update on the status of the North American and Australasian support units.

 


 

6. CRG: We want to register reviews but there is no regional support group for us yet what do we do?

There are plans for support units in North America and Australasia however these groups are not yet functioning. CRGs with concerns about their ability to start to register SRDTA should contact either the UK Support Unit (UKSU) or the Continental Europe Support Unit (CESU).

 


 

7. CRG: Should we be developing a specialist register of studies?

Cochrane Review Groups are not expected to maintain a specialized register of diagnostic test accuracy studies for their group. A single register of diagnostic test accuracy studies designed to cover all specialties is being developed and managed by the Cochrane Renal Group based in Sydney, Australia. This is not yet publicly available. For more information, please visit This website http://www.cochrane.org/docs/diagnosticproposal.htm or contact the Cochrane Renal Group.

 


 

8. CRG: How do we develop our topic list and look for ‘areas of common interest’?

At present we think that CRGs will not have to develop a separate topic list and it may be more useful for CRGs to scope out good clinical questions regarding diagnosis and comparison of appropriate diagnostic tests and prioritisation of appropriate tests.

At present we are not certain how many areas of common interest will be identified. Therefore we would like CRGs to consider other review groups when registering titles. Studies of diagnostic test accuracy usually focus on one condition to be identified, which will usually be within the scope of one review group. Registered titles will be circulated to all review groups in the same way the systematic reviews of interventions are circulated to all groups. We look forward to developing guidance on this as more reviews are registered.

 


 

9. Author: I would like to prepare a Cochrane diagnostic test accuracy review. What should I do?

As with Cochrane Intervention reviews you should contact the relevant Cochrane Review Group (CRG). However, please note, not all CRGs will start registering titles of Cochrane systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy (DTA). When a CRG is ready to start to accept authors' requests to register titles for DTA reviews we recommend that the author team includes members with the following expertise:

·         Content expertise of the condition e.g. a clinician familiar with the target condition,

·         Content expertise of the test e.g. a specialist with experience in performing the index and reference test,

·         Information scientist,

·         Experience of preparing a systematic review,

·         Expertise of the methodology of diagnostic research (i.e. someone with expertise in the quality assessment using QUADAS, knowledge of diagnostic research and diagnostic research synthesis),

·         Statistical expertise i.e. statistician with knowledge of diagnostic research and diagnostic research synthesis.

The CRG will assess each request to register a DTA review. The CRG may consider

·         If the review falls into their scope

·         If the review questions is suitable for a Cochrane review

·         If the review question is a priority for their group

·         the expertise of the review team (See above)

·         availability of training and Handbook materials for themselves and for authors.

 

 


 

10. Author: How do I find and contact the relevant CRG?

There are 50 or so Cochrane review groups (CRGs) covering the whole of medical health care. Visit this webpage www.Cochrane.org/contact/entities.htm#CRGLIST to find the CRG that appears to be most relevant to your chosen review.

 


 

11. Author: When can I register my title?

Each CRG will decide when it is ready to accept systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy from authors. Your CRG may be ready to accept these reviews or may have deferred acceptance until a later date. Please contact your CRG for details.

 


 

12. Author: When can I start writing my protocol?

Please contact your CRG for advice on when to write your protocol. You can prepare your protocol after your proposed title for a systematic review has been accepted by your CRG, the title has been formally registered and your CRG has created a template for the review and made this available to you.

Please use the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy to guide you in the preparation of your protocol. The Handbook is available on our website http://srdta.cochrane.org./

All systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy must be prepared using the new version of RevMan (RevMan5).  Please do not start to prepare your review until you have registered your title and received a review template from your CRG.

 


 

13. Author: Is there a good search filter I could use?

We advise you not to use search filters at all as evidence suggests that you may miss relevant studies. The reason for this is that terms for identifying studies examining the accuracy of diagnostic tests are not well indexed in the electronic bibliographic databases, such as MEDLINE. More details are available in Chapter 7 of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy. This handbook is available from our website http://srdta.cochrane.org.

For advice on searching please contact the trial search coordinator of your CRG.

 


 

14. Author: What quality checklist should I use?

We advise you to use the QUADAS checklist and to modify it if needed (for example, if you need to assess extra quality-items).

Please see the Chapter 9 of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy. This handbook is available from our website http://srdta.cochrane.org.

 

 


 

15. Author: What is the difference between Cochrane systematic reviews of interventions and Cochrane systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy?

We think that systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy are so different from intervention reviews that we are recommending that CRG staff have the opportunity to attend training and workshops to learn more about diagnostic research and systematic reviews of diagnostic research.

Another difference in the publication of these reviews is the requirement that all protocols and reviews are to be signed of for publication by the DTA Editorial Team and the Cochrane Review Group and if only one is signed off it is not possible to publish the review.

 


 

16. What is the Diagnostic Test Accuracy Editorial Team?

The Steering Group of the Cochrane Collaboration convened the DTA editorial team in 2008. It comprises experts in all methodological aspects of preparing systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy. The role of the DTA editorial Team is to manage the quality of DTA reviews in The Cochrane Library through the peer review of these reviews. It will provide peer review comments of the methodology for all protocols and full text systematic reviews of diagnostic test accuracy.

All Cochrane diagnostic test accuracy reviews, and protocols for reviews, will need to be approved for sign off by the DTA Editorial Team before they can be published on the Cochrane Library. The sign off for publication will also require the Cochrane review group to approve the protocol or review for publication. This is a 'dual' sign off procedure.

Details of the editorial team can be found on our website http://srdta.cochrane.org/


 

17. Author: What is the Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy Working Group (DTAWG)?

This group has been set up by the Steering Group to develop and implement the reviews of diagnostic test accuracy within the Cochrane Collaboration. There is more information about the DTAWG on our website http://srdta.cochrane.org.

 

 


 

18. What is the difference between the Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy Working Group (DTAWG) and the Screening and Diagnostic Test Methods Group (SDTMG)?

The Cochrane Diagnostic Test Accuracy Working Group (DTAWG) is closely related to the Screening and Diagnostic Test Methods Group (SDTMG), but the latter has a different function. Although many of the same people are involved in both, the SDTMG's focus is on research and quality control, while the DTAWG's focus is more on the practical implementation of diagnostic reviews within the Cochrane Library.