Decision-making about healthcare-related tests and diagnostic strategies series. Paper 1: testing to improve people's health: a new series

Over three decades ago, authors suggested that the use of healthcare-related tests must lead to a net health benefit beyond knowing about the presence or absence of disease [1 –3]. Achieving this net health benefit will depend on the perspective that is taken: in a clinical encounter, from the patient perspective, this net benefit is expected by the patient, whereas in a public health or health policy setting with a health system perspective, this benefit is expected at the population level, for example, through screening programs.
Source: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - Category: Epidemiology Authors: Tags: Invited Commentary Source Type: research