ASQ Discussion Boards

Replies: 4

Martha Ogando

Posts: 5

Block subjects in a DOE experiment
Posted: Oct 30, 2008 12:35 PM

Due to limited resources an experiment was carried on in several days, in this manner all participants were not tested on the same day. The time and day was selected by participants at their convenience. In addition, although treatment assignment was not randomized (this is because it was necessary to assure that each treatment would be applied in a different order and in equal number of times) participants arrival determined the set of treatment that would be applied to that particular individual. Under these conditions is it necessary to block subjects?

John Harrison

Posts: 434

Re: Block subjects in a DOE experiment
Posted: Dec 20, 2008 12:30 PM

Martha,

You are using the term "treatment" on participants. Since this relates to healthcare, would you please explain in more detail what you are doing. Is this something that goes beyond just "quality improvement"? This is really important to clarify especially when the variable is a "treatment".

Also, I see that you are new to the discussion boards. Welcome!!!

I noticed that you have posted the same question in two other discussion boards. This is considered "impolite". Please choose one board that is most likely to provide you the information that you need. If readers believe that you would get better results on another board, they will sugges that you post the question on another board

Thanks

John Harrison, RN, ASQ-CMQ/OE

Message was edited by: John Harrison

Martha Ogando

Posts: 5

Re: Block subjects in a DOE experiment
Posted: Jan 27, 2009 3:14 PM

John, for replying my question, Thank you.
You are correct; maybe the term should be "trial" and not "treatment". Sorry for the misunderstanding.

I apologize for the inconvenience of posting the question in different boards. This will not happen again.

Regards,

Martha E. Ogando

John Harrison

Posts: 434

Re: Block subjects in a DOE experiment
Posted: Jan 27, 2009 6:58 PM

Martha,

I did not mean to admonish you about posting on different boards - just wanted to share with you what has been come to be known as "posting etiquette". People who are new to listserves and discussion boards don't know about these things. Just wanted to help you!!

As for your experiment/trial, I still have a concern if this is something that needs to be approved by the healthcare organizations ethics/research committee. You may want to check that out. When you are changing the way patients are treated, it may not be permissible unless you follow some strict protocols. Just to let you know as a FYI.

John

Richard Jacob

Posts: 1

Re: Block subjects in a DOE experiment
Posted: Mar 5, 2009 7:53 PM

I'm gathering that Martha isn't speaking of 'treatment' in the sense of people being treated for ailments at the hospital. She is simply referring to the instance of a combination of two factors in the experiment. Martha was concerned about the lack of randomization of her treatments of the experiment. Isn't "treatment" a common term used in DOE?