The presence of both diagnosis and reporting biases may affect how often a problem is perceived as occurring.
The goal is to diagnose (detect) and to report issues accurately and precisely.
Biases in one or both processes can skew perceptions. If the biases occur with opposite degrees then masking of the bias can occur.
|
Diagnosis/Detection Bias
|
Reporting Bias
|
Impact Factor
|
|
denied
|
suppressed
|
-2
|
|
ignored
|
underplayed
|
-1
|
|
accurate and precise
|
accurate and precise
|
0
|
|
favored
|
overplayed
|
+1
|
|
marked overdiagnosis
|
exaggerated
|
+2
|
perceptions =
= (impact factor for diagnosis) + (impact factor for reporting)
deviation from ideal =
= ABS(impact factor for diagnosis) + ABS(impact factor for reporting)
where:
• ABS = absolute value function
Interpretation:
• minimum perception score: -4
• maximum perception score: +4
• ideal perception score: 0
• minimum and ideal deviation score: 0
• maximum deviation score: 4
