Correction of Risk Estimates for Measurement Error in Epidemiology

1995 ◽  
Vol 34 (05) ◽  
pp. 503-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Bashir ◽  
S. W. Duffy
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Measurement Error ◽  
Validation Study ◽  
Validation Studies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Risk Estimates ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
Considerable Pressure

Abstract:Epidemiologists are under considerable pressure to acknowledge the presence of measurement error in the determination of risk factors. Repeatability and validation studies are often prescribed in conjunction with epidemiological studies. We describe some practical uses for repeatability and validation study data, in terms of correcting risk estimates for measurement error. Commonly available methods are described, with their advantages and shortcomings. A user-friendly computer program to carry out the analyses described accompanies the paper.

Statistical Methods for the Validation of Questionnaires

2006 ◽  
Vol 45 (04) ◽  
pp. 409-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. E. Schmidt ◽  
K. Steindorf
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Statistical Methods ◽  
Validation Study ◽  
Validation Studies ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Evaluation Methods ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Systematic Bias

Summary Objectives: Questionnaires used in epidemiological studies should be validated. However, unclarity exists about the appropriate statistical methods and interpretation of validation studies. Thus, we investigated the theory and practice of statistical evaluation approaches. Methods: Using three platforms, a literature review, own simulations, and a validation study performed by ourselves, we worked out relevant limitations, advantages, and new important aspects of evaluation methods. Results: Our systematic literature review, based on physical activity questionnaires, revealed that correlation coefficients are still the common approach in validation studies, found in 41 of 46 reviewed publications (89.1%). This practice has been criticized in the theoretically oriented literature for more than 20 years. Appropriate evaluation methods as recommended by Bland and Altman were found in only ten publications (21.7 %).We showed that serious bias in questionnaires can be revealed by Bland-Altman plots but may remain undetected by correlation coefficients. With our simulations we refuted the argument that correlation coefficients properly investigate whether a questionnaire ranks the subjects sufficiently well. Further, with Bland-Altman analyses we could evaluate differential errors with respect to case-control status in our validation study. Yet, this was not possible with correlation coefficients, because they generally do not identify systematic bias. In addition, we show a potential pitfall in the interpretation of Bland-Altman plots that might occur in specific rare instances. Conclusions: The commonly used correlation approach can yield misleading conclusions in validation studies. A more frequent and proper use of the Bland-Altman methods would be desirable to improve epidemiological data quality.

scholarly journals A Method to adjust for measurement error in multiple exposure variables measured with correlated errors in the absence of an internal validation study

F1000Research ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1486
Author(s):  
Alexander K. Muoka ◽  
George O. Agogo ◽  
Oscar O. Ngesa ◽  
Henry G. Mwambi
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Measurement Error ◽  
Validation Study ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Correlated Errors ◽  
Internal Validation ◽  
Multivariate Method ◽  
Multiple Exposures ◽  
Naive Method

Difficulty in obtaining the correct measurement for an individual’s longterm exposure is a major challenge in epidemiological studies that investigate the association between exposures and health outcomes. Measurement error in an exposure biases the association between the exposure and a disease outcome. Usually, an internal validation study is required to adjust for exposure measurement error; it is challenging if such a study is not available. We propose a general method for adjusting for measurement error where multiple exposures are measured with correlated errors (a multivariate method) and illustrate the method using real data. We compare the results from the multivariate method with those obtained using a method that ignores measurement error (the naive method) and a method that ignores correlations between the errors and true exposures (the univariate method). It is found that ignoring measurement error leads to bias and underestimates the standard error. A sensitivity analysis shows that the magnitude of adjustment in the multivariate method is sensitive to the magnitude of measurement error, sign, and the correlation between the errors. We conclude that the multivariate method can be used to adjust for bias in the outcome-exposure association in a case where multiple exposures are measured with correlated errors in the absence of an internal validation study. The method is also useful in conducting a sensitivity analysis on the magnitude of measurement error and the sign of the error correlation.

scholarly journals A Method to Adjust for Measurement Error in Three Exposures Measured with Correlated Errors in the Absence of Internal Validation Study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander K. Muoka ◽  
George Agogo ◽  
Oscar Ngesa ◽  
Henry Mwambi
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Error ◽  
Validation Study ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Correlated Errors ◽  
Exposure Measurement ◽  
Internal Validation ◽  
Exposure Measurement Error ◽  
Correlated Exposures

Abstract Difficulty in obtaining the correct measurement for an individual's long-term exposure is a major challenge in epidemiological studies that investigate the association between exposures and health outcomes. Measurement error in an exposure biases the association between the exposure and a disease outcome. Usually an internal validation study is required to adjust for exposure measurement error; it is challenging if such a study is not available. We proposed a method (trivariate method) that adjusts for measurement error in three correlated exposures in the absence of internal validation study and illustrated the method using real data. We compared the results from the proposed method with those obtained using a method that ignores measurement error and a method that ignores correlations between the errors and true exposures (the univariate method). It was found that ignoring measurement error leads to bias and underestimates the standard error. It was also found that the magnitude of adjustment in the trivariate method is sensitive to the magnitude of measurement error, sign and correlation between the errors. We conclude that the proposed method can be used to adjust for bias in the outcome-exposure association in a case where three exposures are measured with correlated errors in the absence of an internal validation study. The method is useful in conducting a sensitivity analysis on the magnitude of measurement error and the sign of the error correlation.

Family-, Media-, and School-Related Risk Factors of Video Game Addiction

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 118-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Rehbein ◽  
Dirk Baier
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Video Game ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
School Life ◽  
Video Game Addiction ◽  
Effective Prevention ◽  
Game Addiction

In recent years, a variety of epidemiological studies have provided empirical data on the prevalence of video game addiction (GA) in different age groups. However, few studies investigated the causes of GA and could explain why video game playing as a widespread phenomenon leads to a comparatively small percentage of addicted players. Additionally, the existing longitudinal studies mainly consider psychological trait variables and neglect the possible explanatory value of predictors in socialization regarding media availability, media use, and family and everyday school life. In this paper, the results of a two-wave longitudinal study comprising a sample of students from Grades 4 to 9 (N = 406) are presented. The data show that 15-year-old video game addicts had already exhibited a number of specific risk factors at the age of 10. Students from single-parent families seem to be particularly at risk, as are students with low experienced school well-being and with a weaker social integration in class. The data also indicate that problematic use of video games in childhood increases the risk of GA in adolescence. Male students are especially vulnerable for developing GA. The results of this study are an important contribution to understanding risk factors for GA in adolescents, thereby laying the groundwork for effective prevention measures.

Determination of the prevalence of helicobacter pylori oral infection in smoking patients with chronic generalized periodontitis on the background of chronic hyperacidal gastritis during treatment

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 50-54
Author(s):  
O. L. Zolotukhina ◽  
◽  
Ju. G. Romanova ◽  
O. V. Maslov ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Helicobacter Pylori ◽  
Oral Cavity ◽  
Urease Activity ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Oral Infection ◽  
Helicobacter Pylori Infection ◽  
Natural Origin ◽  
Periodontal Tissues

Diseases of periodontal tissues occupy one of the leading positions among modern dental problems, namely the multifactorial nature of these diseases. In modern dental science, the issue of the development of periodontal pathology against the background of somatic pathology and risk factors remains relevant. Pathology of periodontal tissues in 68–90 % of cases is accompanied by chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Today, there is no doubt that Helicobacter pylori infection can be present in the biotopes of the oral cavity and can affect the course of periodontal pathology. As you know, smoking is one of the important risk factors for the development of inflammatory-dystrophic diseases of periodontal tissues, which can aggravate the course of the latter. The purpose of the work is to determine the prevalence of oral Helicobacter pylori infection in tobacco-dependent patients with chronic generalized periodontitis on the background of chronic hyperacid gastritis during treatment. Patients who received the proposed therapeutic and prophylactic complex (ultraphonophoresis procedures with the created gel «Apisan», and probiotic drug BioGaia ProDentis and angioprotective drug of natural origin — Detralex) showed a gradual decrease in the level of total urease activity and, as a consequence, a decrease the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in the oral cavity according to the results of a urease rapid test with material from the oral cavity, both in the presence of a risk factor — smoking, and in its absence. The use of the proposed therapeutic and prophylactic complex proved to be effective in reducing the prevalence of oral Helicobacter pylori infection in smoking patients and patients who do not smoke, with chronic generalized periodontitis against the background of chronic hyperacidal gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori.

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