American Journal of Epidemiology· 2016Q1
Using Big Data to Emulate a Target Trial When a Randomized Trial Is Not Available: Table 1.
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- Q1SCImago
- 2016year
Short summary
A framework is proposed to explicitly define a 'target trial' when emulating randomized experiments using big observational data for comparative effectiveness research.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- The framework makes the target trial explicit for causal inference from big observational data.
- It utilizes counterfactual theory to compare the effects of sustained treatment strategies.
- The approach organizes analytical methods and provides a structured process for criticizing observational studies.
- The goal is to guide decisions among several strategies by evaluating how well observational analyses emulate a specific target trial.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Ideally, questions about comparative effectiveness or safety would be answered using an appropriately designed and conducted randomized experiment. When we cannot conduct a randomized experiment, we analyze observational data. Causal inference from large observational databases (big data) can be viewed as an attempt to emulate a randomized experiment-the target experiment or target trial-that would answer the question of interest. When the goal is to guide decisions among several strategies, causal analyses of observational data need to be evaluated with respect to how well they emulate a particular target trial. We outline a framework for comparative effectiveness research using big data that makes the target trial explicit. This framework channels counterfactual theory for comparing the effects of sustained treatment strategies, organizes analytic approaches, provides a structured process for the criticism of observational studies, and helps avoid common methodologic pitfalls.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2016 · DOI ↗
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Field: Statistics and Probability
Statistics and ProbabilityMathematics