Combining difference and equivalence test results in spatial maps.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Regionally partitioned health indicator values are commonly presented in choropleth maps. Policymakers and health authorities use them among others for health reporting, demand planning and quality assessment. Quite often there are concerns whether the health situation in certain areas can be considered different or equivalent to a reference value.

Results

Highlighting statistically significant areas enables the statement that these areas differ from the reference value. However, this approach does not allow conclusions which areas are sufficiently close to the reference value, although these are crucial for health policy making as well. In order to overcome this weakness a combined integration of statistical difference and equivalence tests into choropleth maps i

SUBMITTER: Waldhoer T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3032638 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature