Document Detail


Improving ecological inference using individual-level data.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16217847     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In typical small-area studies of health and environment we wish to make inference on the relationship between individual-level quantities using aggregate, or ecological, data. Such ecological inference is often subject to bias and imprecision, due to the lack of individual-level information in the data. Conversely, individual-level survey data often have insufficient power to study small-area variations in health. Such problems can be reduced by supplementing the aggregate-level data with small samples of data from individuals within the areas, which directly link exposures and outcomes. We outline a hierarchical model framework for estimating individual-level associations using a combination of aggregate and individual data. We perform a comprehensive simulation study, under a variety of realistic conditions, to determine when aggregate data are sufficient for accurate inference, and when we also require individual-level information. Finally, we illustrate the methods in a case study investigating the relationship between limiting long-term illness, ethnicity and income in London.
Authors:
Christopher Jackson; Nicky Best; Sylvia Richardson
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Statistics in medicine     Volume:  25     ISSN:  0277-6715     ISO Abbreviation:  Stat Med     Publication Date:  2006 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-05-17     Completed Date:  2006-10-31     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8215016     Medline TA:  Stat Med     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  2136-59     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, U.K. chris.jackson@imperial.ac.uk
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Data Interpretation, Statistical*
Environment*
Humans
London
Models, Statistical*
Multivariate Analysis
Social Change*
Socioeconomic Factors

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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