کد مقاله | کد نشریه | سال انتشار | مقاله انگلیسی | نسخه تمام متن |
---|---|---|---|---|
5121827 | 1486844 | 2017 | 9 صفحه PDF | دانلود رایگان |
ObjectivesTo compare treatment effect estimates obtained from a regression discontinuity (RD) design with results from an actual randomized controlled trial (RCT).Study Design and SettingData from an RCT (EVIDENT), which studied the effect of an Internet intervention on depressive symptoms measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), were used to perform an RD analysis, in which treatment allocation was determined by a cutoff value at baseline (PHQ-9 = 10). A linear regression model was fitted to the data, selecting participants above the cutoff who had received the intervention (n = 317) and control participants below the cutoff (n = 187). Outcome was PHQ-9 sum score 12 weeks after baseline. Robustness of the effect estimate was studied; the estimate was compared with the RCT treatment effect.ResultsThe final regression model showed a regression coefficient of â2.29 [95% confidence interval (CI): â3.72 to â.85] compared with a treatment effect found in the RCT of â1.57 (95% CI: â2.07 to â1.07).ConclusionAlthough the estimates obtained from two designs are not equal, their confidence intervals overlap, suggesting that an RD design can be a valid alternative for RCTs. This finding is particularly important for situations where an RCT may not be feasible or ethical as is often the case in clinical research settings.
Journal: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology - Volume 82, February 2017, Pages 94-102