Variation of the rates of necrotising enterocolitis in the neonatal networks in England
N. T. Longford
Abstract
Necrotising enterocolitis is an oft-fatal disease of the intestinal tract
in neonates born prematurely and with low birthweight. We study
the variation of its rates across the neonatal networks
(groups of neonatal care hospitals) in England.
The methodological challenges include the rarity of the disease
and a relatively small number of networks. We illustrate the problematic
nature of hypothesis testing for key decisions which an analysis is meant
to inform, and apply an approach based on decision theory.
We emphasise the role of sensitivity analysis in dealing with
ambiguity encountered in the process of eliciting information
about the perspective of the client or sponsor
for whom the analysis is conducted.
Statistics in Medicine 36; to appear
January 2017