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Re: Propensity score models

To: "Barlas, Suna" <suna_barlas@merck.com>
Subject: Re: Propensity score models
From: Frank E Harrell Jr <fharrell@virginia.edu>
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 15:03:27 -0400
Cc: s-news@lists.biostat.wustl.edu
In-reply-to: <2C23DE2983BE034CB1CB90DB6B813FD6026A651F@uswpmx11.merck.com>
Organization: University of Virginia
References: <2C23DE2983BE034CB1CB90DB6B813FD6026A651F@uswpmx11.merck.com>
On Thu, 24 Apr 2003 14:17:05 -0400
"Barlas, Suna" <suna_barlas@merck.com> wrote:

> It is implemented in two stages. First, you basically fit a logistic (or
> probit) regression where dependent variable is probability of being on
> treatment and use every independent variable you have in possession. The
> problem is prediction and not estimation and therefore you would go with the
> "kitchen sink" approach. After you obtain probability of being on treatment
> for everybody in the data, you include that as an independent variable in
> the second stage model that may model treatment effect on some dependent
> variable. One of the most popular ways is to use quintiles to categorize
> propensity scores obtained from the first model and include that in the
> second model. The idea is similar to matching but in multidimensions. You
> try to match people on their propensity scores - this tries to get you
> "closer" to randomization.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Suna.
> 

The main problem with that approach I've encountered is imbalances in the outer 
quintiles, as these quintiles cover wider intervals of propensity.  I prefer to 
model the propensity parametrically using cubic splines of logit of propensity. 
 By the way, many analysts make the mistake of putting propensity in the model 
as a covariate rather than logit propensity, even when linearity is assumed.

Frank Harrell
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter Flom [mailto:flom@ndri.org] 
> Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 1:50 PM
> To: s-news@lists.biostat.wustl.edu
> Subject: [S] Propensity score models
> 
> 
> I recently attended a talk on Propensity Score Models by Rajeev
> Dehejia.
> It was very interesting.  It's a method for dealing with sampling bias
> in nonexperimental studies.
> 
> I was wondering if anyone had programmed this in S Plus?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Peter
> 
> Peter L. Flom, PhD
> Assistant Director, Statistics and Data Analysis Core
> Center for Drug Use and HIV Research
> National Development and Research Institutes
> 71 W. 23rd St
> New York, NY 10010
> (212) 845-4485 (voice)
> (917) 438-0894 (fax)
> 

---
Frank E Harrell Jr              Prof. of Biostatistics & Statistics
Div. of Biostatistics & Epidem. Dept. of Health Evaluation Sciences
U. Virginia School of Medicine  http://hesweb1.med.virginia.edu/biostat

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