Table 1.

Illustration of questions and answering grid format. The item format varies with the object of assessment (e.g. diagnostic, investigation, treatment).

For diagnostic knowledge assessment
If you were thinking of	And then you find	This hypothesis becomes
(A diagnosis hypothesis)	(A new clinical information, an imaging study or a laboratory test result)	-2  -1  0  +1  +2
-2 the hypothesis is almost eliminated -1 the hypothesis becomes less probable 0 the information has no effect on the hypothesis +1 the hypothesis is becoming more probable +2 it can only be this hypothesis
For investigation knowledge assessment
If you were considering to ask	And then you find	This investigation becomes
(A diagnostic test)	(A new clinical information, an imaging study or a laboratory test result)	-2  -1  0  +1  +2
-2 contra-indicated totally or almost totally -1 not useful or even detrimental 0 nor less nor more useful +1 useful +2 absolutely necessary
For treatment knowledge assessment
If you were considering to prescribe	And then you find	The relevance of this treatment becomes
(A therapeutic option)	(A new clinical information, an imaging study or a laboratory test result)	-2  -1  0  +1  +2
-2 contra-indicated totally or almost totally -1 not useful or even detrimental 0 nor less nor more useful +1 useful +2 necessary or absolutely necessary