Assessing Sensitivity to an Unobserved Binary Covariate in a Nonrandomized Experiment with Binary Outcome.

摘要

The results of nonrandomized clinical experiments are often disputed because patients at greater risk may be overrepresented in some treatment groups. This paper proposes a simple technique providing insight into the range of plausible conclusions from a nonrandomized experiment with binary outcome and observed categorical covariate. The technique assesses the sensitivity of conclusions to assumptions about an unobserved binary covariate relevant to treatment assignment, and is illustrated in a medical study of coronary artery disease. (Author)