Mediation analysis of the relationship between institutional research activity and patient survival.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent studies have suggested that patients treated in research-active institutions have better outcomes than patients treated in research-inactive institutions. However, little attention has been paid to explaining such effects, probably because techniques for mediation analysis existing so far have not been applicable to survival data.

Methods

We investigated the underlying mechanisms using a recently developed method for mediation analysis of survival data. Our analysis of the effect of research activity on patient survival was based on 352 patients who had been diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer at 149 hospitals in 2001. All hospitals took part in a quality assurance program of the German Cancer Society. Patient outcomes were compared between hospitals par

SUBMITTER: Rochon J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3917547 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature