Comparing two treatments by decision theory
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Longford, NT
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Decision theory is applied to the general problem of comparing two treatments
in an experiment with subjects assigned to the treatments at random. The
inferential agenda covers collection of evidence about superiority, non-inferiority
and average bioequivalence of the treatments. The proposed approach requires
defining the terms ‘small’ and ‘large’ to qualify the magnitude of the treatment
effect, and specifying the losses (or loss functions) that quantify the consequences
of the incorrect conclusions. We argue that any analysis that ignores these two
inputs is deficient, and so is any ad hoc way of taking them into account. Sample
size calculation for studies intended to be analysed by this approach is also
discussed.
in an experiment with subjects assigned to the treatments at random. The
inferential agenda covers collection of evidence about superiority, non-inferiority
and average bioequivalence of the treatments. The proposed approach requires
defining the terms ‘small’ and ‘large’ to qualify the magnitude of the treatment
effect, and specifying the losses (or loss functions) that quantify the consequences
of the incorrect conclusions. We argue that any analysis that ignores these two
inputs is deficient, and so is any ad hoc way of taking them into account. Sample
size calculation for studies intended to be analysed by this approach is also
discussed.
Date Issued
2016-09-01
Date Acceptance
2016-04-25
Citation
Pharmaceutical Statistics, 2016, 15 (5), pp.387-395
ISSN
1539-1604
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
387
End Page
395
Journal / Book Title
Pharmaceutical Statistics
Volume
15
Issue
5
Copyright Statement
© 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article, which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pst.1754
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Physical Sciences
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Statistics & Probability
Mathematics
clinical trial
hypothesis test
loss function
treatment effect
verdict
TESTS
Bayes Theorem
Clinical Trials as Topic
Decision Theory
Humans
Sample Size
Therapeutic Equivalency
Treatment Outcome
0104 Statistics
1115 Pharmacology And Pharmaceutical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2016-06-01