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01-06-2012 | Brief Report

Context by treatment interactions as the primary object of study in cluster randomized controlled trials of population health interventions

Authors: Daniel Fuller, Louise Potvin

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 3/2012

Abstract

Cluster randomized controlled trials are increasingly used in population health intervention research. Through randomization, researchers attempt to isolate the treatment effect and remove all other effects, including any effects of social context. In many cases, the constant effect assumption cannot be satisfied in cluster randomized controlled trials. We argue that when studying population health interventions, the effective mechanism of intervention lies in the interaction between the treatment and social context. Researchers should be cognizant that attempts to remove the effect of social context using CRTC may fail. The interaction between the treatment and social context should be the primary object of study in population health intervention research.

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Title: Context by treatment interactions as the primary object of study in cluster randomized controlled trials of population health interventions
Authors: Daniel Fuller
Louise Potvin
Publication date: 01-06-2012
Publisher: SP Birkhäuser Verlag Basel
Published in: International Journal of Public Health / Issue 3/2012
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-012-0357-x

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