Page 103 - Journal of Special Operations Medicine - Spring 2017

in unnecessary treatment and diagnostic investigations. Disclosures
Instead, you consider her history and elect to treat her The authors have nothing to disclose.
with an inhaled bronchodilator. After a short time, she
feels much better with her asthma symptoms controlled.
References
Although it might not be at the forefront of combat 1. Carroll A. Healthcare Triage, June 1, 2015. Diagnoses, pre-
medicine, understanding basic biostatistics will help you dictive values and whether you’re sick of not: NPV and PPV.
understand test characteristics and limitations. This un- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHj7ygeqelw.
derstanding helps manage limited resources and ensures 2. Wikipedia Contributors. Sensitivity and specificity. Wikipedia,
that you are ordering tests that will actually help you The Free Encycolpedia. 8 Jan 2017, Web. https://en.wikipedia
diagnose and manage patients. .org/wiki/Sensitivity_and_specificity.

Disclaimers
The views and medical opinion herein represent those of Sgt Banting is a physician assistant with CANSOFCOM.
the authors. They do not reflect the operation practice Major Meriano is a practicing emergency physician. He has
or views of the Canadian Forces or other organizations. served in various capacities with the Canadian Forces and Re-
The cases are provided to be educational and thought serves since 2003. Comment and suggestions can be sent to
provoking; at no time does the author suggest that the sofclinicalcorner@gmail.com.
tactical clinicians exceed the scope of their practice or
act against the direction of their medical protocols or Keywords: biostatistics, statistics; tests; specificity;
recommendations of their medical leadership. sensitivity

Basic Biostatistics and Clinical Medicine 79