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The balanced incomplete block design is not suitable for the evaluation of complex interventions
Jasper Trietsch1, Pieter Leffers2, Ben van Steenkiste1
1Department of General Practice, School for Public health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
|September 17, 2014
Summary
The balanced incomplete block (BIB) design is often incorrectly applied in quality of care research for complex interventions. This study highlights its unsuitability and advocates for accurate methodological referencing.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Quality of Care Research
- Complex Interventions
Background:
- The balanced incomplete block (BIB) design is frequently cited in quality of care research.
- Its application is often claimed when evaluating complex interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically assess the appropriateness of using the BIB design for evaluating complex interventions.
- To address the frequent misapplication of this statistical design in health services research.
Main Methods:
- A literature review was conducted using PubMed.
- Relevant handbooks on statistical designs were also consulted.
Main Results:
- Analysis revealed that studies claiming to use the BIB design for complex interventions often employed a different methodology.
- The actual methods used were not consistent with the principles of a true BIB design.
Conclusions:
- The balanced incomplete block design is not suitable for evaluating complex interventions.
- Accurate referencing of original methodological literature is crucial to prevent the misuse of statistical terms.
Keywords:
Epidemiologic research designEvaluation studiesHealth care evaluation mechanismsPrimary careQuality of health careResearch methodologyMore Related Videos
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