Design and Analysis of Cluster Randomization Trials in Health Research [Hardcover]

A cluster randomization trial is one in which intact social units, or clusters of individuals, are randomized to different intervention groups. Trials randomizing clusters have become particularly widespread in the evaluation of non-therapeutic interventions, including lifestyle modification, educational programmes and innovations in the provision of health care. The increasing popularity of this design among health researchers over the past two decades has led to an extensive body of methodology on the subject. This is the first book to present a systematic and united treatment of this topic; it contains distinctive chapters on the history of cluster randomized trials, ethical issues and reporting guidelines.
Acknowledgements.

Preface.

1. Introduction.

1.1 Why randomize clusters?

1.2 What is the impact of cluster randomization on the design and analysis of a trial?

1.3 Quantifying the effect of clustering.

1.4 Randomized versus non-randomized comparisons.

1.5 The unit of inference.

1.6 Terminology: what’s in a name?

2. The historical development of cluster randomized trials.

2.1 Randomized trials before 1950.

2.2 Cluster randomized trials between 1950 and 1978.

2.3 Cluster randomized trails since 1978.

3. Issues arising in the planning of cluster randomization trials.

3.1 Selecting interventions.

3.2 Setting eligibility criteria.

3.3 Measuring subject response.

3.4 The most commonly used experimental designs.

3.5 Factorial and crossover designs.

3.6 Selecting an experimental design.

3.7 The importance of cluster-level replication.

3.8 Strategies for conducting slóâ