Analysis of missing data in palliative care studies.

Abstract

This report discusses the general problem of the analysis of data that could include missing values. In the palliative care setting, the data may not be missing at random, but instead be related to the outcome of interest, and therefore the use of standard statistical procedures may be problematic. This study summarizes differing results that were found when using three simple methods for estimating missing data in an example data set testing for differences in the use of morphine or methadone for relief of pain. Differences in the conclusions are discussed and recommendations are made to improve the reporting of studies with missing data.