Define the positive predictive value of a test and explain how to evaluate this measure.
What will be an ideal response?
One way to assess screening results is to evaluate the positive predictive value of a test, defined as the proportion of people who test positive for a disease who actually have the disease. While this measure is important clinically, its value is dependent upon the prevalence of the disease, which may vary. This value may be artificially high if the prevalence of the disease is high. In this case, using the sensitivity or specificity of the test may be a better measure. The formula for calculating positive predictive values is: Positive Predictive Value = a/(a + c)
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a. a change in behavior b. an increase in pulse rate c. an increase in respirations d. hot, dry, flushed skin
Preterm or false labor is commonly referred to as ________ _______ contractions.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).