title: Changing analytical approaches in European epidemiology -- a short comment on a recent article.
abstract: Multilevel analysis is today considered a more appropriate way to monitor health care performance, as it allows a less biased estimation of uncertainty, and can also separate and quantify contextual (as opposed to individual) effects. Multilevel analysis should be applied as the standard methodology for hospital comparisons. A greater awareness of this question in future Journal articles may be in order.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Merlo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D012041:Regional Medical Programs; D012042:Registries; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology