Sample Size Calculator: Two Crossover-Sample Means

Hypothesis: One-Sided Equivalence

 

Data Input: (Help) (Example)

Input

 

Results

α

 

 

 

β

 

 

Allowable difference

 

n

Population variance

 

 

 

δ

 

 

 

 

Note:

Variables

Descriptions

α

One-sided significance level

1-β

Power of the test

Allowable difference

Acceptable mean difference between sample two and sample one (µ21)

Population variance

Population variance

δ

Equivalence limit

n

Sample size of each group


Help Aids Top

 

Application: Consider a 2×2 cross-over design contains two sequences (treatment orderings) and two time periods (occasions). One sequence receives treatment A followed by treatment B. The other sequence receives B and then A. This procedure is used to test the following hypotheses:

 

Procedure:

  1. Enter

a)      value of α, the probability of type I error

b)      value of β, the probability of type II error

c)      value of allowable difference

d)     value of population variance

e)      value of δ>0, the equivalence limit.

  1. Click the button “Calculate” to obtain result sample size of each group n.

 

Formula:                                                   (*)

 

 

Notations:

 

α:               The probability of type I error (significance level) is the probability of rejecting the true null hypothesis.

 

β:               The probability of type II error (1 – power of the test) is the probability of failing to reject the false null hypothesis.

 

δ:               The largest change from the reference value (baseline) that is considered to be trivial.

 

μ2 – μ1:      The value of allowable difference is the true mean difference between a test drugs (μ2) and a placebo control or active control agent (μ1).

 


Examples

 

Example 1: Suppose a difference of 5% (i.e., δ=5%) in percent change of low density lipidproteins (LDLs) is considered of clinically meaningful difference. By using (*), assuming that the standard deviation is =0.2 (i.e., population variance is 0.04), the required sample size of each group to achieve an 80% power (β=0.2) at α=0.05 for correctly detecting such difference of μ2 – μ1=0 change obtained by normal approximation as n≈69.

 

 

Reference: Chow, Shao and Wang, Sample Size Calculations In Clinical Research, Taylor & Francis, NY. (2003) Pages 66-67.

 

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