Monday 18th August, 14:30-15:30
LARGE Seminar Room, 1st Floor, Cambridge Institute of Public Health

Dr Lisa Yelland | University of Adelaide

Abstract: Perinatal trials often include infants from both single and multiple births, resulting in a mixture of independent and clustered data. Despite the well known statistical implications of ignoring clustering in the sample size calculations and analysis, it is rarely taken into account in perinatal trials. This is not surprising, since methods for calculating sample size based on a mixture of independent and clustered data have received limited attention. Further, conflicting recommendations have been made regarding if and how clustering due to multiple births should be taken into account in the analysis, particularly when the multiple birth rate is low. The potential for informative cluster size to occur in perinatal trials, where the outcome is related to the size of the cluster, has also recently been recognised and this has implications for the choice of analysis method. In this seminar, I will present the results of a systematic review on methods used to account for multiple births in perinatal trials. I will then discuss the different sample size and analysis approaches relevant to perinatal trials including infants from both single and multiple births, and explore some of the factors that influence whether clustering due to multiple births should be taken into account.

To see the full programme for the MRC Biostatistics Unit Seminar Series this term please visit https://www.mrc-bsu.cam.ac.uk/news-and-events/seminars/