Smart Design for Comparing Adaptive Interventions

• Activity Number: 17
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Sunday, August 4, 2013 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Biopharmaceutical Section
• Author(s): Min Qian*+ and Inbal Nahum-Shani and Daniel Almirall and Susan Murphy
• Companies: Columbia University and University of Michigan and University of Michigan and University of Michigan
• Keywords: Dynamic treatment regimes ; sequential randomization ; treatment policy

Abstract

Research in the area of intervention development is shifting from the traditional fixed-intervention approach to adaptive interventions, which allow greater individualization and adaptation of intervention options (i.e., intervention type and/or dosage) over time. Adaptive interventions are operationalized via a sequence of decision rules that specify how intervention options should be adapted to an individual's characteristics and changing needs, with the general aim to optimize the long-term effectiveness of the intervention. We propose the use of sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) design for addressing research questions that inform the construction of high-quality adaptive interventions We also provide Methods for analyzing data from SMART to address primary research questions that inform the construction of a high-quality adaptive intervention. Comparison of SMART with other experimental approaches will be made as well.