A computer program for non-parametric receiver operating characteristic analysis. 1993

S Vida
Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Sensitivity and specificity are key measures of the performance of a given test in detecting a given disorder. For tests yielding numerical scores, sensitivity and specificity usually vary inversely over the range of theoretically possible cutoff scores, complicating the task of quantifying and comparing the diagnostic accuracy of tests. Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis (ROC) approaches this problem by plotting the curve of sensitivity versus 1-specificity for all possible cutoff scores of the test. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) can be used to describe the diagnostic accuracy of the test. Parametric and non-parametric methods exist that allow the calculation of the AUC and the comparison of tests. A disadvantage of parametric formulations is the assumption of a normal or Gaussian distribution of test scores. The present article presents a computer program that utilizes non-parametric formulations that do not require the normal distribution of test scores. The program calculates the sensitivity and specificity of a test at all possible cutoff scores, plots the ROC curve, calculates the AUC, its standard error and 95% confidence limits, and allows the comparison of tests on independent and correlated samples.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008432 Mathematical Computing Computer-assisted interpretation and analysis of various mathematical functions related to a particular problem. Statistical Computing,Computing, Statistical,Mathematic Computing,Statistical Programs, Computer Based,Computing, Mathematic,Computing, Mathematical,Computings, Mathematic,Computings, Mathematical,Computings, Statistical,Mathematic Computings,Mathematical Computings,Statistical Computings
D012372 ROC Curve A graphic means for assessing the ability of a screening test to discriminate between healthy and diseased persons; may also be used in other studies, e.g., distinguishing stimuli responses as to a faint stimuli or nonstimuli. ROC Analysis,Receiver Operating Characteristic,Analysis, ROC,Analyses, ROC,Characteristic, Receiver Operating,Characteristics, Receiver Operating,Curve, ROC,Curves, ROC,ROC Analyses,ROC Curves,Receiver Operating Characteristics
D012680 Sensitivity and Specificity Binary classification measures to assess test results. Sensitivity or recall rate is the proportion of true positives. Specificity is the probability of correctly determining the absence of a condition. (From Last, Dictionary of Epidemiology, 2d ed) Specificity,Sensitivity,Specificity and Sensitivity
D012984 Software Sequential operating programs and data which instruct the functioning of a digital computer. Computer Programs,Computer Software,Open Source Software,Software Engineering,Software Tools,Computer Applications Software,Computer Programs and Programming,Computer Software Applications,Application, Computer Software,Applications Software, Computer,Applications Softwares, Computer,Applications, Computer Software,Computer Applications Softwares,Computer Program,Computer Software Application,Engineering, Software,Open Source Softwares,Program, Computer,Programs, Computer,Software Application, Computer,Software Applications, Computer,Software Tool,Software, Computer,Software, Computer Applications,Software, Open Source,Softwares, Computer Applications,Softwares, Open Source,Source Software, Open,Source Softwares, Open,Tool, Software,Tools, Software
D016001 Confidence Intervals A range of values for a variable of interest, e.g., a rate, constructed so that this range has a specified probability of including the true value of the variable. Confidence Interval,Interval, Confidence,Intervals, Confidence

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