title: Using effectiveness studies for prescribing research, part 2.
abstract: Trials that consider the effects of interventions on prescribing behaviour amongst clinicians often have complex design implications resulting in data that has inherent hierarchical structure. It follows that both experimental design and analysis plans must account for this structure and thus results should be considered in terms of clinician behaviour rather than individual patient response. We describe this change in perspective and the necessity for using statistical techniques that allow incorporation of potential confounding effects. We also discuss the appropriateness of some specific outcomes in relation to these trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care and General Practice, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Freemantle
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eastaugh
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012107:Research Design