Graphical Presentation of Patient-Treatment Interaction Elucidated by Continuous Biomarkers

摘要: Background: Biomarkers providing evidence for patient-treatment interaction are key in the development and practice of personalized medicine. Knowledge that a patient with specific feature – as demonstrated through biomarker would have an advantage under given treatment vs. competing can aid immensely medical decision-making. Statistical strategies to establish continuous biomarkers complex their formal results thus not easy communicate. Good graphical representations help translate such findings use clinical community. Although general guidelines on how present figures reports available, there remains little guidance elucidating role (CBPTI). Objectives: To combat current lack comprehensive reviews or adequate guides presentation within this topic, our study proposes principles CBPTI plots. In order understand practice, we review methodology plots currently used research. Methods: The quality plot is determined by well provides information Several criteria good proposed, including visual display, units presenting absolute outcome measures, appropriate quantification statistical uncertainty, correct display benchmarks, informative content answering questions especially quantitative individual regard treatment. We examined from years 2000 – 2014, reviewed were research six major journals 2013 – 2014 using principle theoretical saturation. Each found was assessed appropriateness its utility. Results: review, total seven methodological papers five which categorized into four types: those distinguish effect each group; show differences between groups (by either partitioning all individuals subpopulations modelling functional form interaction); evaluate proportion population impact biomarker; classification accuracy biomarker. utilizing suffers shortcomings: measure scaled relative unit instead unit, incorrect being non-informative questions. Conclusions: There considerable scope improvement representation reports. challenge develop instruments high-quality only convey concepts readers limited knowledge, but also facilitate