Statistical Analysis of N-of-1 Trials

Abstract

This chapter discusses some techniques for exploratory data analysis and statistical modelling of data from N-of-1 trials, and provides illustrations of how statistical models and corresponding analyses can be developed for the more common designs encountered in N-of-1 trials. Models and corresponding analyses for other designs, perhaps involving different nesting of treatments, order and blocks, can be developed in a similar manner. The focus of this chapter is on continuous response outcomes, that is, numerical response data. The chapter is presented in tutorial style, with concomitant R code and output provided to complement the description of the models. Mixed effects models are also discussed. Such models can be extended to account for a variety of factors whose effects can be considered as random draws from a population of effects. A taxonomy of relevant statistical methods is also presented. This chapter is aimed at readers with some background in statistics who are considering an analysis of data from an N-of-1 trial in the R package. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)