Application of causal inference methods in the analyses of randomised controlled trials: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Applications of causal inference methods to randomised controlled trial (RCT) data have usually focused on adjusting for compliance with the randomised intervention rather than on using RCT data to address other, non-randomised questions. In this paper we review use of causal inference methods to assess the impact of aspects of patient management other than the randomised intervention in RCTs.

Methods

We identified papers that used causal inference methodology in RCT data from Medline, Premedline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from 1986 to September 2014, using a forward citation search of five seminal papers, and a keyword search. We did not include studies where inverse probability weighting was used solely to balance baseline characteristics, adj

SUBMITTER: Farmer RE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5761133 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature