Final answer:
The adverse consequences of using a screening test with low specificity include subjecting people to potential risks, over-referral of individuals without the disease, classifying more individuals as abnormal, and failing to identify persons who have the condition.
Step-by-step explanation:
A screening test with low specificity can have several adverse consequences:
- Unnecessarily subjecting people to potential risks associated with diagnostic procedures: When a screening test has low specificity, it can result in false positive results. This means that it may incorrectly identify people as having the condition when they do not, leading to further diagnostic procedures that may carry risks.
- Over-referral of persons without disease for diagnosis: False positive results from a test with low specificity can lead to unnecessary referral of individuals for further diagnosis, even though they do not actually have the condition. This can increase healthcare costs and potentially subject individuals to unnecessary procedures.
- Increasing the number of persons who are classified as abnormal: A low specificity screening test may classify more individuals as abnormal, even though they do not have the condition. This can lead to unnecessary anxiety and healthcare interventions for individuals who are falsely identified as having the condition.
- Failure to identify persons who have the condition: A low specificity test may miss detecting the presence of the condition in individuals who actually have it, resulting in false negative results.