Sequential boundaries approach in clinical trials with unequal allocation ratios
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In clinical trials, both unequal randomization design and sequential analyses have ethical and economic advantages. In the single-stage-design (SSD), however, if the sample size is not adjusted based on unequal randomization, the pow...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2006-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Research Methodology |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2288/6/1 |
| _version_ | 1818381257400123392 |
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| author | Ayatollahi Seyyed Jafari Peyman Behboodian Javad |
| author_facet | Ayatollahi Seyyed Jafari Peyman Behboodian Javad |
| author_sort | Ayatollahi Seyyed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In clinical trials, both unequal randomization design and sequential analyses have ethical and economic advantages. In the single-stage-design (SSD), however, if the sample size is not adjusted based on unequal randomization, the power of the trial will decrease, whereas with sequential analysis the power will always remain constant. Our aim was to compare sequential boundaries approach with the SSD when the allocation ratio (R) was not equal.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We evaluated the influence of R, the ratio of the patients in experimental group to the standard group, on the statistical properties of two-sided tests, including the two-sided single triangular test (TT), double triangular test (DTT) and SSD by multiple simulations. The average sample size numbers (ASNs) and power (1-β) were evaluated for all tests.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our simulation study showed that choosing R = 2 instead of R = 1 increases the sample size of SSD by 12% and the ASN of the TT and DTT by the same proportion. Moreover, when R = 2, compared to the adjusted SSD, using the TT or DTT allows to retrieve the well known reductions of ASN observed when R = 1, compared to SSD. In addition, when R = 2, compared to SSD, using the TT and DTT allows to obtain smaller reductions of ASN than when R = 1, but maintains the power of the test to its planned value.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study indicates that when the allocation ratio is not equal among the treatment groups, sequential analysis could indeed serve as a compromise between ethicists, economists and statisticians.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:31:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-020c94578a2b4f3f909631816ca40a8f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2288 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:31:42Z |
| publishDate | 2006-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Research Methodology |
| spelling | doaj.art-020c94578a2b4f3f909631816ca40a8f2022-12-21T23:20:14ZengBMCBMC Medical Research Methodology1471-22882006-01-0161110.1186/1471-2288-6-1Sequential boundaries approach in clinical trials with unequal allocation ratiosAyatollahi SeyyedJafari PeymanBehboodian Javad<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In clinical trials, both unequal randomization design and sequential analyses have ethical and economic advantages. In the single-stage-design (SSD), however, if the sample size is not adjusted based on unequal randomization, the power of the trial will decrease, whereas with sequential analysis the power will always remain constant. Our aim was to compare sequential boundaries approach with the SSD when the allocation ratio (R) was not equal.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We evaluated the influence of R, the ratio of the patients in experimental group to the standard group, on the statistical properties of two-sided tests, including the two-sided single triangular test (TT), double triangular test (DTT) and SSD by multiple simulations. The average sample size numbers (ASNs) and power (1-β) were evaluated for all tests.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our simulation study showed that choosing R = 2 instead of R = 1 increases the sample size of SSD by 12% and the ASN of the TT and DTT by the same proportion. Moreover, when R = 2, compared to the adjusted SSD, using the TT or DTT allows to retrieve the well known reductions of ASN observed when R = 1, compared to SSD. In addition, when R = 2, compared to SSD, using the TT and DTT allows to obtain smaller reductions of ASN than when R = 1, but maintains the power of the test to its planned value.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study indicates that when the allocation ratio is not equal among the treatment groups, sequential analysis could indeed serve as a compromise between ethicists, economists and statisticians.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2288/6/1 |
| spellingShingle | Ayatollahi Seyyed Jafari Peyman Behboodian Javad Sequential boundaries approach in clinical trials with unequal allocation ratios BMC Medical Research Methodology |
| title | Sequential boundaries approach in clinical trials with unequal allocation ratios |
| title_full | Sequential boundaries approach in clinical trials with unequal allocation ratios |
| title_fullStr | Sequential boundaries approach in clinical trials with unequal allocation ratios |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sequential boundaries approach in clinical trials with unequal allocation ratios |
| title_short | Sequential boundaries approach in clinical trials with unequal allocation ratios |
| title_sort | sequential boundaries approach in clinical trials with unequal allocation ratios |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2288/6/1 |
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