Model selection for univariable fractional polynomials

Abstract

Since Royston and Altman’s 1994 publication (Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series C 43: 429–467), fractional polynomials have steadily gained popularity as a tool for flexible parametric modeling of regression relationships. In this article, I present fp select, a postestimation tool for fp that allows the user to select a parsimonious fractional polynomial model according to a closed test procedure called the fractional polynomial selection procedure or function selection procedure. I also give a brief introduction to fractional polynomial models and provide examples of using fp and fp select to select such models with real data.