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Sequential methods based on the boundaries approach for the clinical comparison of survival times
Author(s) -
Whitehead John
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
statistics in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.996
H-Index - 183
eISSN - 1097-0258
pISSN - 0277-6715
DOI - 10.1002/sim.4780131310
Subject(s) - computer science , test (biology) , variety (cybernetics) , statistics , line (geometry) , data mining , mathematics , artificial intelligence , paleontology , geometry , biology
The earliest formal sequential procedure, the sequential probability ratio test, involved the plotting of certain test statistics and comparison with straight line parallel boundaries. The boundaries approach can now be used with a wide variety of test statistics, including those appropriate to the analysis of survival data. The boundaries can take various forms, although the use of straight lines still eases the underlying mathematical theory while at least approximating to the requirements of the majority of clinical trials. The implementation of sequential methods needs to be made flexibly and sensitively, with each clinical trial meriting an individualized approach.