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Glossary

Sensitivity

Health Care Term

Sensitivity, in the context of healthcare, refers to the ability of a diagnostic test to correctly identify those who have the condition being tested for. It is the proportion of true positives (people who actually have the condition and test positive for it) to the total number of people who have the condition.

For example, a test with 90% sensitivity would correctly identify 90 out of 100 people who actually have the condition, but would miss 10% or 10 out of 100 people who have the condition. A test with high sensitivity is desirable in healthcare because it reduces the likelihood of false-negative results, which can lead to delayed or missed diagnoses.

Sensitivity is particularly important in the early detection and diagnosis of diseases such as cancer, where early intervention is crucial for improving outcomes. In such cases, doctors may use tests with high sensitivity, such as mammograms for breast cancer or colonoscopies for colorectal cancer, to detect cancers at an early stage when they are more treatable.

In summary, sensitivity is an important measure of a diagnostic test*s accuracy and is used in healthcare to ensure accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment, particularly in the early detection of diseases.


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