Selection models and pattern-mixture models to analyse longitudinal quality of life data subject to drop-out.

Longitudinally observed quality of life data with large amounts of drop-out are analysed. First we used the selection modelling framework, frequently used with incomplete studies. An alternative method consists of using pattern-mixture models. These are also straightforward to implement, but result in a different set of parameters for the measurement and drop-out mechanisms. Since selection models and pattern-mixture models are based upon different factorizations of the joint distribution of measurement and drop-out mechanisms, comparing both models concerning, for example, treatment effect, is a useful form of a sensitivity analysis. Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.