title: Design and analysis of studies to reduce the incidence of colon polyps.
abstract: Decisions regarding the design and analysis of a phase III study to reduce the incidence of colorectal polyps must take into account two complicating factors: the possibility that polyps are missed during screening exams, and variable lengths of follow-up. In this paper we investigate the effects due to misclassification on the power of statistical tests to detect a change in polyp recurrence rates. We also use Monte Carlo studies to examine the relative efficiency of different methods of adjusting for variable times of follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson 85724.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: McGee
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fennerty
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hixson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Garewal
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alberts
mesh_terms: D015982:Bias; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000592:standards; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors