A qualitative study into the difficulties experienced by healthcare decision makers when reading a Cochrane diagnostic test accuracy review

Ref ID 507
First Author Z. Zhelev
Journal SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
Year Of Publishing 2013
URL https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23680077/
Keywords Cochrane
Stakeholder
Diagnostic
Problem(s) Lack of clinical expert/ stakeholder/ user perspective
Unwieldy/ difficult to read
Number of systematic reviews included 3
Summary of Findings Participants unfamiliar with the design and methodology of diagnostic test accuracy reviews found the reviews largely inaccessible and experienced a range of difficulties stemming mainly from the mismatch between background knowledge and level of explanation provided in the text. Experience with systematic reviews of interventions did not guarantee better understanding and, in some cases, led to confusion and misinterpretation. These difficulties were further exacerbated by poor layout and presentation, which affected even those with relatively good knowledge of diagnostic test accuracy reviews and had a negative impact not only on their understanding of the reviews but also on their motivation to engage with the text.
Did the article find that the problem(s) led to qualitative changes in interpretation of the results? Not Applicable
Are the methods of the article described in enough detail to replicate the study? Yes