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Sample size calculation

Assistant Professor: Ahmed S.


Ishtiaque
ULAB

Why calculating sample


size?
Reduce unnecessary expense
(time, labor, money, materials)
Avoid useless research

Approaches and decisions


about sample size
Depends on research questions and
research designs
Some common situations
Estimating prevalence /mean
Comparing two groups
Mean
Proportion

Sample size for prevalence


study
For dichotomous data (only 2
outcomes; sick/not sick, male/female,
dead/alive)
The study describe results in
percentage
For example, disease prevalence
survey

Sample size: prevalence


survey
n

Z 2 [ p(1 p)]
d2

p = estimated prevalence
(percentage)
q = 1-p
Z = critical value for 95% CI=
1.96
d = allowable error
n = sample size

Error
Suppose, the survey wants to
estimate the true prevalence of a
disease in population
The estimate we get from the survey
will be within +/- d% of the true
prevalence

Example
A survey is to estimate prevalence of
influenza virus infection in school
kids
Suppose the available evidence
suggests that approximately 20%
(P=20) of the children will have
antibodies to the virus
Assume the investigator wants to
estimate the prevalence within 6% of
the true value (6% is called allowable
error; d)

Sample size for estimation


of mean
A Survey to find an average of a
parameter (birth weight, antibody
titre, blood pressure)
The study reports average of
parameters
The parameter must be quantitative

Sample size for estimation of


mean
Z 2 SD 2
n
d2

SD = Standard Deviation of variable


of interest
d = Allowable error
Z = value for the desired confidence
limit
n = required sample size

Example
Suppose an investigator has some
evidence suggests that the standard
deviation of rat weight is about 455 g
He wishes to provide an estimate
within 80 g of the true average (80 g
is the allowable error; d)

Example
The required sample size is
n = (1.96) 2 x (455)2

/ (80)2 =

129.39
Thus approximately 130 rats would
be needed.

Sample Size to Compare


Percentages
A study to compare percentages of
outcomes from different groups
(incidence, cure rate, mortality rate,
survival rate)

Sample Size to Compare


Percentages
( Pc Qc ) ( PeQe )
2
nC
2
2
(d )
d
Pc = percentage from control group
Qc = 1- Pc
Pe = Percentage from the
experimental group
Qe = 1- Pe

Sample Size to Compare


Percentages

( Pc Qc ) ( PeQe )
2
nC
2
2
(d )
d

d = Difference between the two


groups (must be positive)
C = Constant (See table next
page)

C : Constant
alpha

0.05

0.01

7.85 11.68

When power is 80%


Power = Ability to find significance
when the two groups are really
different (the formula is for two sided
difference)

Example 1
The research question is whether
smokers have a greater incidence of
skin cancer than nonsmokers
A review of previous literature
suggests that the incidence of skin
cancer is about 0.2 in nonsmokers
At alpha=0.05, and power=80%, how
many smokers and nonsmokers will
need to be studied to determine
whether skin cancer incidence is at
least 0.3 in smokers?

Example 2

Null Hypothesis : The incidence of


skin cancer does not differ in
smokers and nonsmokers

Alternative Hypothesis : The


incidence of skin cancer is different
between smokers than nonsmokers

Example
Pe = 0.3, Pc = 0.2
( Pc Qc ) ( PeQe )
2
nC
2
2
(d )
d
(0.3 0.7) (0.2 0.8)
2
n 7.85

2
2
(0.1)
0.1

= 312.45 = use 313


persons in each group

Sample Size to Compare


Means
Hypothesis: Compare means of
different groups
The parameters are quantitative
(birth weight, blood pressure)
Select 2 groups that you think they
will be most different (such as; a
control and a treatment group)
For t-test, ANOVA

Sample Size to Compare


Means
s
n 1 2C
d

S = Standard Deviation of the


variable
d = Difference between the 2 groups
C = Constant (from previous table)

Example
The research question is to compare the
efficacy of DRUG A and DRUG B in the
treatment of asthma
The outcome variable is FEV1 (forced
expiratory in 1 second) 1 hour after treatment
A previous study has reported that the mean
FEV1 in persons with treated asthma was 2.0
litres, with a standard deviation of 1.0 litre
The investigator would like to be able to
detect a difference of 10% or more in mean
FEV1 between the two treatment groups

Example

Null Hypothesis : Mean FEV1 is the


same in asthmatics treated with
DRUG A as in those treated with
DRUG B

Alternative Hypothesis : Mean


FEV1 is different between asthmatic
patients treated with DRUG A and
those treated with DRUG B

Example
S=1
d = 10% of 2 litre = 0.2 litre

1
n 1 2 7.85

0.2

s
n 1 2C
d

n = 393.5 : Then use 394 patients in each gro

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