Choosing an imbalance metric for covariate-constrained randomization in multiple-arm cluster-randomized trials.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In cluster-randomized controlled trials (C-RCTs), covariate-constrained randomization (CCR) methods efficiently control imbalance in multiple baseline cluster-level variables, but the choice of imbalance metric to define the subset of "adequately balanced" possible allocation schemes for C-RCTs involving more than two arms and continuous variables is unclear. In an ongoing three-armed C-RCT, we chose the min(three Kruskal-Wallis [KW] test P values) > 0.30 as our metric. We use simulation studies to explore the performance of this and other metrics of baseline variable imbalance in CCR.

Methods

We simulated three continuous variables across three arms under varying allocation ratios and assumptions. We compared the performance of min(analysis of variance [ANOVA] P

SUBMITTER: Ciolino JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6537428 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature