We then assessed attitudes towards a computer-mediated clinical decision support system (CDSS) to gauge whether this type of intervention could support performance of the guideline.
Compliance with the diagnostic algorithm and with the treatment recommendation was used to assess the operational performance of the guideline.
We assessed the operational performance of the guideline, the incremental yield of investigations, and the diagnostic accuracy for smear-negative tuberculosis in HIV-positive patients using culture positivity as reference standard.
In the following, we investigate the potential performance of the guideline recommended approach of such a log equally spaced design.
Firstly, it was a single center based study; as a result the performance of the guideline at different levels of HIV and TB prevalence could not be evaluated.
As the purpose of the study was to assess the performance of the guideline, the nurse was instructed to follow the guideline's diagnostic algorithms rigidly and not to employ additional judgement.
8 Although the evidence for 6 and compliance with 9 this guideline has already been reviewed, as has its effect on colorectal services, 10 a meta-analysis of the diagnostic performance of the guideline itself is lacking.
Symptom combinations or two week referral guidelines potentially have diagnostic value, but the performance of the guideline could be improved by standardisation, clear definitions, and the addition of important characteristics of those diagnosed with colorectal cancer but not fulfilling the current guideline.
The 'superior performance' of the guideline references occurs because a large number of them are published in the high-impact general journals, The Lancet (138 of them), New England Journal of Medicine (133), British Medical Journal (78) and Journal of the American Medical Association (50).
