Accuracy and consistency of quadratic odds estimates

Fam Pract. 1991 Sep;8(3):269-75. doi: 10.1093/fampra/8.3.269.

Abstract

In medical practices that do not have rosters, only the number of patients who come to the practice can be enumerated: the number who might have visited if they had had a reason to do so remains unknown. The Quadratic Odds Estimator is a technique for estimating the total number of patients cared for by a primary care medical practice, including the non-visitors. A revised version of the model is shown to have an error of less than 1% in predicting the number of patients at risk of visiting a primary care medical practice. Aggregate and sex-specific estimates of total practice size are shown to be comparable to within 2%. The model estimates the prevalence of hypertension among the patients of two family practice resdencies as 18 and 11%. The rationale for employing unconventional regression weights and dual regressions is explained.

MeSH terms

  • Family Practice*
  • Female
  • Health Services Research / methods*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Michigan / epidemiology
  • Models, Statistical*
  • Odds Ratio
  • Office Visits
  • Ontario
  • Probability
  • Regression Analysis
  • Risk Factors