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Activity Number:
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263
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Type:
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Topic Contributed
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Date/Time:
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
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Sponsor:
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Section on Health Policy Statistics
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| Abstract - #304105 |
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Title:
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Estimating Volume-Outcome Associations from Longitudinal Naturalistic Data
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Author(s):
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Benjamin French*+ and Farhood Farjah and David R. Flum and Patrick Heagerty
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Companies:
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University of Pennsylvania and University of Washington and University of Washington and University of Washington
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Address:
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Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Philadelphia, PA, 19104-6021,
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Keywords:
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Health policy ; Surgeon experience ; Estimating equations ; Mixed models
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Abstract:
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Volume-outcome studies involve collecting observational longitudinal data on measures of surgical experience and patient outcomes following a surgical procedure, typically using an administrative database. These studies are popular among health services researchers because the results may have direct policy implications. However, there is not a standard approach to a volume-outcome analysis with respect to specifying a volume measure and selecting an estimation method. We establish a framework from which to approach a longitudinal volume-outcome analysis and examine the statistical issues associated with using longitudinal data analysis methods to model naturalistic volume-outcome data. We conclude that analysts must carefully specify a volume measure that most accurately reflects their scientific question and select an estimation method that is appropriate for their scientific context.
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