Comparing two treatments by decision theory
N. T. Longford
Abstract
Decision theory is applied to the general problem of comparing
two treatments in an experiment with subjects assigned
to the treatments at random.
The inferential agenda covers collection of evidence about superiority,
non-inferiority and equivalence of the treatments.
The proposed approach requires defining the terms 'small' and 'large'
to qualify the magnitude of the treatment effect,
and specifying the losses (or loss functions)
to quantify the consequences of the incorrect conclusions.
We argue that any analysis that ignores these two inputs
is deficient, and so is any ad hoc way of taking them into account.
Design of studies intended to be analysed by this approach is also discussed.
Pharmaceutical Statistics 15, 387-395, 2016.
September 2016