Appropriate statistical methods for analysing partially nested randomised controlled trials with continuous outcomes: a simulation study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In individually randomised trials we might expect interventions delivered in groups or by care providers to result in clustering of outcomes for participants treated in the same group or by the same care provider. In partially nested randomised controlled trials (pnRCTs) this clustering only occurs in one trial arm, commonly the intervention arm. It is important to measure and account for between-cluster variability in trial design and analysis. We compare analysis approaches for pnRCTs with continuous outcomes, investigating the impact on statistical inference of cluster sizes, coding of the non-clustered arm, intracluster correlation coefficient (ICCs), and differential variance between intervention and control arm, and provide recommendations for analysis.

Methods<

SUBMITTER: Candlish J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6186141 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature