Premium
Testing the Ratio of Two Poisson Rates
Author(s) -
Gu Kangxia,
Ng Hon Keung Tony,
Tang Man Lai,
Schucany William R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
biometrical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1521-4036
pISSN - 0323-3847
DOI - 10.1002/bimj.200710403
Subject(s) - poisson distribution , mathematics , likelihood ratio test , statistics , monte carlo method , sample size determination
In this paper we compare the properties of four different general approaches for testing the ratio of two Poisson rates. Asymptotically normal tests, tests based on approximate p ‐values, exact conditional tests, and a likelihood ratio test are considered. The properties and power performance of these tests are studied by a Monte Carlo simulation experiment. Sample size calculation formulae are given for each of the test procedures and their validities are studied. Some recommendations favoring the likelihood ratio and certain asymptotic tests are based on these simulation results. Finally, all of the test procedures are illustrated with two real life medical examples. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)