Modeling Distance from Study to Decision

Abstract

This chapter describes how Roundsman assesses the relevance of a clinical study to a physician’s particular decision (step 3 in Fig. 1-1). Section 4.1 outlines Roundsman’s representation of a study’s statistical results: what interventions were compared, what outcomes were observed, etc. Section 4.2 presents a taxonomy of distances which allows Roundsman to characterize the distance(s) between study and clinical context. Section 4.3 describes the calibration of distance on a common scale. Section 4.4 describes the use of distance-estimators to identify when a particular distance metric component is applicable to the case being considered. Section 4.5 discusses related research, and section 4.6 summarizes the chapter’s main points.