Table 2

Combination of Terms with the Best Sensitivity (keeping Specificity ≥ 50%), Best Specificity (keeping Sensitivity ≥ 50%), and Best Optimization of Sensitivity and Specificity (based on abs [sensitivity-specificity]<1%) for Detecting Studies of Clinical Prediction Guides in EMBASE in 2000. Values are percentages (95% confidence intervals).

Search Strategy OVID search*
Sensitivity (n = 69)
Specificity (n = 27700)
Precision†
Accuracy (n = 27769)

Best Sensitivity predict:.tw. OR exp methodology OR validat:.tw.
97.1 (93.1 to 100.0)
74.2 (73.7 to 74.7)
0.9 (0.7 to 1.2)
74.2 (73.7 to 74.7)
Best Specificity validation.tw. OR prediction.tw.
60.9 (49.4 to 72.4)
98.8 (98.6 to 98.9)
10.8 (7.7 to 13.9)
98.7 (98.5 to 98.8)
Best Optimization of Sensitivity & Specificity validat:.mp. OR index.tw. OR model.tw.
91.3 (84.7 to 98.0)
90.2 (89.9 to 90.6)
2.3 (1.7 to 2.8)
90.2 (89.9 to 90.6)

*Search strategies are reported using Ovid's search engine syntax for EMBASE.

†Denominator varies by row. : = truncation; tw = textword (word or phrase appears in title or abstract); exp = exploded subject heading; mp = multiple posting – term appears in title, abstract, or subject heading.

Holland et al. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2005 5:11   doi:10.1186/1472-6947-5-11