Diagnostic reliability in osteopathic medicine

In order to apply an effective treatment we must first know how to identify those who will and will not likely respond to that treatment. Determining the accuracy and reliability of diagnostic tests used in osteopathy is therefore a high priority. Diagnostic research in osteopathy is far reaching, as diagnosis impacts treatment choice, prognosis, referral, and patient monitoring. The accuracy and reliability of diagnostic tests also impacts the selection of patients for participation clinical trials and can be an source of misclassification bias. This masterclass provides a brief overview of diagnostic research and then explains in more detail the methodology, statistical analysis and quality appraisal of diagnostic reliability studies.