Intracluster correlation coefficients in cluster randomized trials: empirical insights into how should they be reported

Marion K Campbell; Jeremy M Grimshaw; Diana R Elbourne

doi:10.1186/1471-2288-4-9

Intracluster correlation coefficients in cluster randomized trials: empirical insights into how should they be reported

Marion K Campbell, Jeremy M Grimshaw, Diana R Elbourne

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Increasingly, researchers are recognizing that there are many situations where the use of a cluster randomized trial may be more appropriate than an individually randomized trial. Similarly, the need for appropriate standards of reporting of cluster trials is more widely acknowledged.
METHODS: In this paper, we describe the results of a survey to inform the appropriate reporting of the intracluster correlation coefficient (ICC)--the statistical measure of the clustering effect associated with a cluster randomized trial.
RESULTS: We identified three dimensions that should be considered when reporting an ICC--a description of the dataset (including characteristics of the outcome and the intervention), information on how the ICC was calculated, and information on the precision of the ICC.
CONCLUSIONS: This paper demonstrates the development of a framework for the reporting of ICCs. If adopted into routine practice, it has the potential to facilitate the interpretation of the cluster trial being reported and should help the development of new trials in the area.

Original language	English
Article number	9
Number of pages	5
Journal	BMC Medical Research Methodology
Volume	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-4-9
Publication status	Published - 28 Apr 2004

Keywords

cluster analysis
statistical data interpretation
empirical research
humans
randomized controlled trials as topic
sample size
standards

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10.1186/1471-2288-4-9

Intracluster correlation
© 2004 Campbell et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original URL. http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2288/4/9
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title = "Intracluster correlation coefficients in cluster randomized trials: empirical insights into how should they be reported",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Increasingly, researchers are recognizing that there are many situations where the use of a cluster randomized trial may be more appropriate than an individually randomized trial. Similarly, the need for appropriate standards of reporting of cluster trials is more widely acknowledged. METHODS: In this paper, we describe the results of a survey to inform the appropriate reporting of the intracluster correlation coefficient (ICC)--the statistical measure of the clustering effect associated with a cluster randomized trial. RESULTS: We identified three dimensions that should be considered when reporting an ICC--a description of the dataset (including characteristics of the outcome and the intervention), information on how the ICC was calculated, and information on the precision of the ICC. CONCLUSIONS: This paper demonstrates the development of a framework for the reporting of ICCs. If adopted into routine practice, it has the potential to facilitate the interpretation of the cluster trial being reported and should help the development of new trials in the area. ",

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T2 - empirical insights into how should they be reported

AU - Campbell, Marion K

AU - Grimshaw, Jeremy M

AU - Elbourne, Diana R

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N2 - BACKGROUND: Increasingly, researchers are recognizing that there are many situations where the use of a cluster randomized trial may be more appropriate than an individually randomized trial. Similarly, the need for appropriate standards of reporting of cluster trials is more widely acknowledged. METHODS: In this paper, we describe the results of a survey to inform the appropriate reporting of the intracluster correlation coefficient (ICC)--the statistical measure of the clustering effect associated with a cluster randomized trial. RESULTS: We identified three dimensions that should be considered when reporting an ICC--a description of the dataset (including characteristics of the outcome and the intervention), information on how the ICC was calculated, and information on the precision of the ICC. CONCLUSIONS: This paper demonstrates the development of a framework for the reporting of ICCs. If adopted into routine practice, it has the potential to facilitate the interpretation of the cluster trial being reported and should help the development of new trials in the area.

AB - BACKGROUND: Increasingly, researchers are recognizing that there are many situations where the use of a cluster randomized trial may be more appropriate than an individually randomized trial. Similarly, the need for appropriate standards of reporting of cluster trials is more widely acknowledged. METHODS: In this paper, we describe the results of a survey to inform the appropriate reporting of the intracluster correlation coefficient (ICC)--the statistical measure of the clustering effect associated with a cluster randomized trial. RESULTS: We identified three dimensions that should be considered when reporting an ICC--a description of the dataset (including characteristics of the outcome and the intervention), information on how the ICC was calculated, and information on the precision of the ICC. CONCLUSIONS: This paper demonstrates the development of a framework for the reporting of ICCs. If adopted into routine practice, it has the potential to facilitate the interpretation of the cluster trial being reported and should help the development of new trials in the area.

KW - cluster analysis

KW - statistical data interpretation

KW - empirical research

KW - humans

KW - randomized controlled trials as topic

KW - sample size

KW - standards

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Intracluster correlation coefficients in cluster randomized trials: empirical insights into how should they be reported

Abstract

Keywords

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