title: GEE analysis of negatively correlated binary responses: a caution.
abstract: The method of generalized estimating equations has become almost standard for analysing longitudinal and other correlated response data. However, we have found that if binary responses have less than binomial variation over clusters, and are modelled using exchangeable correlations, prevailing software implementations may give unreliable results. Bounding the negative correlation away from its theoretical minimum may not always be a satisfactory solution. In such instances, using the independence working correlation structure and robust SEs is a more trustworthy alternative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Jimh@epid.lan.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hanley
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Negassa
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Edwardes
mesh_terms: D016010:Binomial Distribution; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009819:Office Visits; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors