Jansen J ,
Lourijsen ECMP ,
Poppelaars CAM ,
Putten DJ van ,
Treurniet HF ,
Winter CR de ,
Water HPA van de ,
Verkleij H
176 p
in Dutch
1993
Toon Nederlands
English Abstract The progress in medical technology causes an increasing
availability of diagnostic tests for early detection of serious, incurable
diseases and for making predictions about the occurrence of clinical signs.
With reference to the political discussion about prognostic medical
research, the National Institute of Public Health and Environmental
Protection has on assignment investigated what kind of questions and types
of medical-diagnostic tests are being used during pre-employment
examinations, life-insurance examinations and disability insurance
examinations at this moment and in the near future. Furthermore, the
prognostic value of the questions/tests with respect to the purpose of the
examinations is reviewed and conclusions are drawn about which
questions/tests can, from a scientific point of view, be used meaningful in
these examinations. The study is done by means of literature-search and
consultation of experts. In the examinations, a multitude of questions and
tests is being used, of which a selection has been discussed. A distinction
has been made between the validity/predictive value of a question/test and
the prognostic value of information about a risk factor/disease towards the
purpose of the examinations. The prognostic value of questions and tests,
used in the examinations, is strongly dependent on the predicted endpoint ;
suitability for a job, risk of industrial disability or mortality-risk. The
prognostic value is therefore depending on both the specific question or
test and the type of examination. In the last chapter of this report,
conclusions have been drawn separately for each type of examination.
Subsequently, some draw-backs of the study are
discussed.
