"Overmatching" Controls?! (Radon Medicine Efficacy)

[hflong@postoffice.pacbell.net]

Bill, Bernie, rad scientists and HPs,

Radon, like all other MEDICINES, must be tested with maximum matching

possible (placebo-controlled studies, double blinded), to definitively

identify most beneficial dosage, frequency of bad results (unusual

sensitivity), etc.



Why does Field refuse to accept the ethics of such a study? In Iowa,

 37% smoking "matched controls" (for 87% smoking lung cancer cases),

elicits incredulity about the validity of  "statistical correction".

True controls must be identical to cases in everything except the

chemical being tested, even to placebo effect (usually 30%).



Cohen is correct here. Field refuses for radon, a test required of every

other medicine.



Howard Long



epirad@mchsi.com wrote:



> yes, I spoke on Radsafe about this before.

>

> http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/0005/msg00861.html

>

> http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/0201/msg00601.html

>

> Also, see:

> http://www.vanderbilt.edu/radsafe/0006/msg00593.html

>

> Dr. Cohen States: "The basis for a case-control study is

> that cases and controls are matched in every way except

> for having contracted the disease. Any deviation from

> this would seem to be an issue for concern."

>

> Field: This is an erroneous statement. What Dr. Cohen

> describes here is OVERMATCHING. Dr. Cohen says in a case-

> control study the cases and controls are matched "in

> every way except for having contracted the disease". Dr.

> Cohen, I respectfully request a reference for this

> statement. For example, if your statement was true, we

> should have matched the cases and controls by radon

> concentration, mobility, shoe size, eye color, favorite

> ice cream flavor, etc.

>

> > Friends,

> >

> > Have you reviewed the paper below on case-control

> study over-matching error?

> >

> > Comments?

> >

> > Regards, Jim Muckerheide

> > ========================

> >

> > Removal of radiation dose response effects: an example

> of over-matching.

> > Marsh JL, Hutton JL, Binks K.

> > Department of Statistics, University of Newcastle upon

> Tyne NE1 7RU

>

> _______________________________________________

> rad-sci-l mailing list

> rad-sci-l@ans.ep.wisc.edu

> http://ans.ep.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-sci-l



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