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Table 1 Comparison of sensitivity analyses reported in medical and health economics journals in January 2012

From: A tutorial on sensitivity analyses in clinical trials: the what, why, when and how

Variable

Medical journals

Health economics journals

Number with statistical analysis

64$

71

Number with sensitivity analysis (%)

13& (20.3)

22 (30.9)

Type of sensitivity analysis

  

• Methods of analysis

5

12

• Outcome definitions

4

1

• Distributional assumptions

1

0

• Key assumptions*

2

4

• Missing data

1

4

• Baseline imbalances

0

1

  1. $Eighteen (18) of these were randomized controlled trials, of which only 3 reported sensitivity analyses.
  2. &Of which 3 were randomized controlled trials and 10 were observational studies.
  3. *Assumptions related to the participants, interventions or outcomes that can affect the results of the trial. For example, considering a second episode of cancer as a relapse instead of a continuation of the first; in a cost-effectiveness analysis, modifying the anticipated frequency of the intervention.