NDLI: A Proxy Outcome Approach for Causal Effect in Observational Studies: A Simulation Study

Content Provider	PubMed Central
Author	Liang, Wenbin Zhao, Yuejen Lee, Andy H.
Copyright Year	2014
Abstract	Background. Known and unknown/unmeasured risk factors are the main sources of confounding effects in observational studies and can lead to false observations of elevated protective or hazardous effects. In this study, we investigate an alternative approach of analysis that is operated on field-specific knowledge rather than pure statistical assumptions. Method. The proposed approach introduces a proxy outcome into the estimation system. A proxy outcome possesses the following characteristics: (i) the exposure of interest is not a cause for the proxy outcome; (ii) causes of the proxy outcome and the study outcome are subsets of a collection of correlated variables. Based on these two conditions, the confounding-effect-driven association between the exposure and proxy outcome can then be measured and used as a proxy estimate for the effects of unknown/unmeasured confounders on the outcome of interest. Performance of this approach is tested by a simulation study, whereby 500 different scenarios are generated, with the causal factors of a proxy outcome and a study outcome being partly overlapped under low-to-moderate correlations. Results. The simulation results demonstrate that the conventional approach only led to a correct conclusion in 21% of the 500 scenarios, as compared to 72.2% for the alternative approach. Conclusion. The proposed method can be applied in observational studies in social science and health research that evaluates the health impact of behaviour and mental health problems.
Related Links	http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/872435
Starting Page	872435
File Format	PDF
ISSN	23146133
e-ISSN	23146141
Journal	BioMed Research International
Volume Number	2014
Language	English
Publisher	Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publisher Date	2014-01-01
Access Restriction	Open
Rights Holder	Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Subject Keyword	Research in Higher Education
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Immunology and Microbiology Medicine Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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