An important part of building evidence-based practice is the development, refinement, and use of quality diagnostic tests and measures in research and practice. Discuss the role of sensitivity and specificity in accuracy of a screening test?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: The Role of Sensitivity and Specificity in the Accuracy of Screening Tests
Introduction:
In evidence-based practice, the development and use of quality diagnostic tests and measures are essential components. When assessing the accuracy of a screening test, two key metrics, sensitivity and specificity, play a crucial role. This essay will discuss the significance of sensitivity and specificity in determining the accuracy of a screening test and their role in evidence-based practice.
I. Understanding Sensitivity and Specificity:
Sensitivity:
Sensitivity refers to the ability of a screening test to correctly identify individuals who have the condition or characteristic being tested for.
It measures the proportion of true positives (i.e., individuals with the condition who are correctly identified as positive) out of the total number of individuals with the condition.
A highly sensitive test has a low rate of false negatives, meaning it rarely misses individuals who have the condition.
Specificity:
Specificity is the ability of a screening test to accurately identify individuals who do not have the condition or characteristic being tested for.
It measures the proportion of true negatives (i.e., individuals without the condition who are correctly identified as negative) out of the total number of individuals without the condition.
A highly specific test has a low rate of false positives, meaning it rarely misidentifies individuals without the condition as positive.
II. Role of Sensitivity and Specificity in Accuracy:
Sensitivity:
A high sensitivity value indicates that the screening test is effective at detecting individuals with the condition.
A sensitive test is crucial when early detection is necessary or when missing even a single positive case could have significant consequences.
For example, in cancer screenings, a highly sensitive test helps identify potential cases early, increasing the chances of successful treatment.
Specificity:
A high specificity value indicates that the screening test is effective at correctly identifying individuals without the condition.
A specific test is important when false positives can lead to unnecessary interventions or treatments.
For instance, in genetic testing, a highly specific test helps avoid misdiagnosing individuals as positive, reducing potential psychological distress and unnecessary medical procedures.
III. Importance in Evidence-Based Practice:
Diagnostic Accuracy:
Sensitivity and specificity are fundamental measures used to assess the diagnostic accuracy of screening tests.
These metrics help determine how well a test can correctly identify those with or without the condition, providing clinicians and researchers with valuable information to make informed decisions.
Test Selection:
Sensitivity and specificity influence the selection of screening tests in clinical practice.
Depending on the desired outcome, clinicians need to consider whether high sensitivity or high specificity is more critical for their particular clinical context.
By understanding these metrics, healthcare professionals can choose appropriate tests that align with their specific diagnostic needs.
Research and Evaluation:
Sensitivity and specificity are also crucial in research studies evaluating the effectiveness of new screening tests or comparing different diagnostic methods.
Validating a new test against a gold standard involves assessing its sensitivity and specificity to determine its accuracy and reliability.
Conclusion:
Sensitivity and specificity play vital roles in evaluating the accuracy of screening tests in evidence-based practice. Sensitivity ensures that individuals with the condition are accurately identified, facilitating early detection and intervention. Specificity ensures that individuals without the condition are correctly classified as negative, preventing unnecessary interventions or treatments. By understanding these metrics and considering their implications in clinical practice and research, healthcare professionals can make informed decisions when selecting and evaluating diagnostic tests, ultimately enhancing patient care and promoting evidence-based practice.
