Rethinking PICO in the Machine Learning Era: ML-PICO

Background  Machine learning (ML) has captured the attention of many clinicians who may not have formal training in this area but are otherwise increasingly exposed to ML literature that may be relevant to their clinical specialties. ML papers that follow an outcomes-based research format can be assessed using clinical research appraisal frameworks such as PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome). However, the PICO frameworks strain when applied to ML papers that create new ML models, which are akin to diagnostic tests. There is a need for a new framework to help assess such papers. Objective  We propose a new framework to help clinicians systematically read and evaluate medical ML papers whose aim is to create a new ML model: ML-PICO (Machine Learning, Population, Identification, Crosscheck, Outcomes). We describe how the ML-PICO framework can be applied toward appraising literature describing ML models for health care. Conclusion  The relevance of ML to practitioners of clinical medicine is steadily increasing with a growing body of literature. Therefore, it is increasingly important for clinicians to be familiar with how to assess and best utilize these tools. In this paper we have described a practical framework on how to read ML papers that create a new ML model (or diagnostic test): ML-PICO. We hope that this can be used by clinicians to better evaluate the quality and utility of ML papers.     

颈椎后路单开门微型钢板内固定术治疗颈椎管狭窄症

目的:探讨颈椎后路单开门微型钢板内固定术治疗颈椎管狭窄症的临床疗效和安全性。方法:2017年3月至2019年3月收治25例颈椎管狭窄症患者。男15例,女10例。年龄33~68岁,中位数45岁。C3~C5狭窄16例,C3~C6狭窄9例。发育型狭窄18例,退行性狭窄7例。病程1~7年,中位数4年。均采用颈椎后路单开门微型钢板内固定术治疗。测定患者的颈椎曲度和活动度,采用视觉模拟量表(visual analogue scale,VAS)和Oswestry功能障碍指数(Oswestry disability index,ODI)量表评价颈肩部疼痛情况,采用日本骨科学会(Japanese Orthopedic Association,JOA)脊髓型颈椎病评分量表(17分法)评价颈髓功能,采用Odom评级标准评价整体疗效,记录并发症发生情况。结果:所有患者均随访至术后12个月。与术前相比,术后3个月时患者的颈椎曲度和活动度均增大(5.25°±3.05°,8.02°±3.13°,t=3.169,P=0.003;38.48°±13.60°,56.12°±12.90°,t=4.705,P=0.000),颈肩部疼痛VAS评分和ODI均减小[(7.69±0.53)分,(3.14±0.21)分,t=39.906,P=0.000;(21.75±5.48)分,(10.13±2.12)分,t=9.888,P=0.000]。患者术前及术后3个月、6个月、12个月的JOA评分比较,总体差异有统计学意义[(8.22±1.51)分,(14.75±3.32)分,(16.53±3.52)分,(16.78±3.66)分,F=41.001,P=0.000];术后3个月、6个月、12个月的JOA评分均高于术前(P=0.000;P=0.000;P=0.000)。术后12个月时,按照Odom评级标准评定,优12例、良10例、一般2例、差1例;疗效评定为差的1例患者,经非手术治疗后病情控制。1例患者术后出现背部疼痛,服用非甾体抗炎止痛药后疼痛缓解;均未出现吞咽困难、脊髓损伤、内固定松动等并发症。结论:采用颈椎后路单开门微型钢板内固定术治疗颈椎管狭窄症,能有效改善患者的颈椎曲度和活动度、减轻颈肩部疼痛症状、改善颈髓功能,总体疗效较好,而且具有较高的安全性。