Sample size calculation in three-level cluster randomized trials using generalized estimating equation models.

ABSTRACT: Three-level cluster randomized trials (CRTs) are increasingly used in implementation science, where 2fold-nested-correlated data arise. For example, interventions are randomly assigned to practices, and providers within the same practice who provide care to participants are trained with the assigned intervention. Teerenstra et al proposed a nested exchangeable correlation structure that accounts for two levels of clustering within the generalized estimating equations (GEE) approach. In this article, we utilize GEE models to test the treatment effect in a two-group comparison for continuous, binary, or count data in three-level CRTs. Given the nested exchangeable correlation structure, we derive the asymptotic variances of the estimator of the treatment effect for different types of outcome

SUBMITTER: Liu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8351402 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature