MULTC

Description

Multc is the name applied to the design strategy for monitoring multiple outcomes in clinical trials described in the papers given in references below.

There are three software implementations of this method. The first, and most general, is the commandline program multc99, available for download here. This version was developed in C by Hsi-Guang Sun. The two newer versions, both called Multc Lean, retain the most commonly used features of multc99 and simplify the user interface. The web-based version of Multc Lean strips the Multc method to its simplest form. The Windows desktop version of Multc Lean adds a few elaborations but is also in the spirit of the web-based version.

This technical report investigates the time required to conduct a clinical trial using this method.

References

Thall, Peter F., Simon, R. and Estey, E.H. "Bayesian sequential monitoring designs for single-arm clinical trials with multiple outcomes," Statistics in Medicine 14:357-379, 1995.

Thall, Peter F., Simon, R. and Estey, E.H. "New statistical strategy for monitoring safety and efficacy in single-arm clinical trials," J. Clinical Oncology 14:296-303, 1996.

Thall, Peter F. and Sung, Hsi-Guang, "Some Extensions and Applications of a Bayesian Strategy for Monitoring Multiple Outcomes in Clinical Trials." Statistics in Medicine. (In press as of December, 1997).