What is the “golden standard” for assessing population-based interventions?—problems of dilution bias
Year: 2000
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To identify different types of dilution bias in population-based interventions and to suggest measures for handling these methodological problems. DESIGN: Literature review plus analysis of data from a population-based intervention against cardiovascular disease in a Swedish municipality. MAIN RESULTS: The effects of an intervention on mortality and morbidity were much more diluted by non-intervening factors, dissemination to areas outside the intervention area, social diffusion, population mobility and time than by using intermediate outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: Theoretically, changes in scientifically well documented risk factors, for example, intermediate outcome measures, should be preferred to using morbidity or mortality as outcome measures.
Authors: L Lindholm, M Rosén
Institutions: National Board of Health and Welfare, Umeå University
Language: English
Subfield: Statistics and Probability
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2137766525