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Main Authors: Smith, Bonnie B., Gao, Yujing, Yang, Shu, Varadhan, Ravi, Apter, Andrea J., Scharfstein, Daniel O.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2204.11979
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author Smith, Bonnie B.
Gao, Yujing
Yang, Shu
Varadhan, Ravi
Apter, Andrea J.
Scharfstein, Daniel O.
author_facet Smith, Bonnie B.
Gao, Yujing
Yang, Shu
Varadhan, Ravi
Apter, Andrea J.
Scharfstein, Daniel O.
contents Many trials are designed to collect outcomes at or around pre-specified times after randomization. If there is variability in the times when participants are actually assessed, this can pose a challenge to learning the effect of treatment, since not all participants have outcome assessments at the times of interest. Furthermore, observed outcome values may not be representative of all participants' outcomes at a given time. Methods have been developed that account for some types of such irregular and informative assessment times; however, since these methods rely on untestable assumptions, sensitivity analyses are needed. We develop a methodology that is benchmarked at the explainable assessmen (EA) assumption, under which assessment and outcomes at each time are related only through data collected prior to that time. Our method uses an exponential tilting assumption, governed by a sensitivity analysis parameter, that posits deviations from the EA assumption. Our inferential strategy is based on a new influence function-based, augmented inverse intensity-weighted estimator. Our approach allows for flexible semiparametric modeling of the observed data, which is separated from specification of the sensitivity parameter. We apply our method to a randomized trial of low-income individuals with uncontrolled asthma, and we illustrate implementation of our estimation procedure in detail.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2204_11979
institution arXiv
publishDate 2022
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Semi-Parametric Sensitivity Analysis for Trials with Irregular and Informative Assessment Times
Smith, Bonnie B.
Gao, Yujing
Yang, Shu
Varadhan, Ravi
Apter, Andrea J.
Scharfstein, Daniel O.
Methodology
Many trials are designed to collect outcomes at or around pre-specified times after randomization. If there is variability in the times when participants are actually assessed, this can pose a challenge to learning the effect of treatment, since not all participants have outcome assessments at the times of interest. Furthermore, observed outcome values may not be representative of all participants' outcomes at a given time. Methods have been developed that account for some types of such irregular and informative assessment times; however, since these methods rely on untestable assumptions, sensitivity analyses are needed. We develop a methodology that is benchmarked at the explainable assessmen (EA) assumption, under which assessment and outcomes at each time are related only through data collected prior to that time. Our method uses an exponential tilting assumption, governed by a sensitivity analysis parameter, that posits deviations from the EA assumption. Our inferential strategy is based on a new influence function-based, augmented inverse intensity-weighted estimator. Our approach allows for flexible semiparametric modeling of the observed data, which is separated from specification of the sensitivity parameter. We apply our method to a randomized trial of low-income individuals with uncontrolled asthma, and we illustrate implementation of our estimation procedure in detail.
title Semi-Parametric Sensitivity Analysis for Trials with Irregular and Informative Assessment Times
topic Methodology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2204.11979