Abstract
An approach is described for predicting the statistical value of extending follow-up in a cohort study. A simple approximation to the expected number of new events of interest is given. The effect of these events an inferences for parameters such as a standardized mortality ratio is approached in two ways. The first concerns the probability of reversing the conclusion of a significance test. The second approach finds the plausible range of values for the standardized mortality ratio after further follow-up that are consistent with the currently available data. Each of these values is displayed together with the precision of the estimate. The methods are illustrated with results from the international Radiation Study of Cervical Cancer (IARC Scientific Publication No. 52, 1984).
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 611-619 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | American journal of epidemiology |
Volume | 121 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 1985 |
Keywords
- Biometry follow-up studies
- Mortality
- Radiation effects
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology