Receiver operating characteristic curve's application and interpretation in medical research

Abstract

Receiver operating characteristic(ROC), a sensitive diagnostic test that Plots ssensitivity in the y-axis and the rate of false positives in the x-axis, is prepared to be a useful method for evaluating the performance of the diagnostic test. The aim of this study was to introduce the ROC analysis in a nonmathematical and non-statistical way. Important concepts that are needed to use and to interpret this type of analysis correctly include quantitative and qualitative diagnostic tests, sensitivity and specificity, area under the curve, and 95 % confidence intervals. Finally, the ROC analysis software has also been discussed in brief.