Comparing analytical strategies for balancing site-level characteristics in stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials: a simulation study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Stepped-wedge cluster randomized trials (SWCRTs) are a type of cluster-randomized trial in which clusters are randomized to cross-over to the active intervention sequentially at regular intervals during the study period. For SWCRTs, sequential imbalances of cluster-level characteristics across the random sequence of clusters may lead to biased estimation. Our study aims to examine the effects of balancing cluster-level characteristics in SWCRTs.

Methods

To quantify the level of cluster-level imbalance, a novel imbalance index was developed based on the Spearman correlation and rank regression of the cluster-level characteristic with the cross-over timepoints. A simulation study was conducted to assess the impact of sequential cluster-level imbalances across differ

SUBMITTER: Ma C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10496299 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature