The analysis of sequential clinical trials

Abstract

The conduct of a sequential clinical trial is considered in two distinct stages, the planning of the trial and the analysis of the results. Tests based on straight line stopping boundaries are considered. The planning stage is described in terms of existing theory and results are presented which allow significance levels to be quoted and interval estimates to be given at the analysis stage. Tables for use in the calculation of significance levels are included. The accuracy of large sample results is assessed by means of oomputer simulation.