The effect of a constraint on the maximum number of controls matched to each treated subject on the performance of full matching on the propensity score when estimating risk differences.

ABSTRACT: Many observational studies estimate causal effects using methods based on matching on the propensity score. Full matching on the propensity score is an effective and flexible method for utilizing all available data and for creating well-balanced treatment and control groups. An important component of the full matching algorithm is the decision about whether to impose a restriction on the maximum ratio of controls matched to each treated subject. Despite the possible effect of this restriction on subsequent inferences, this issue has not been examined. We used a series of Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the effect of imposing a restriction on the maximum ratio of controls matched to each treated subject when estimating risk differences. We considered full matching both with and without

SUBMITTER: Austin PC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7821239 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature