Multiple imputation (MI) is a popular approach to handling missing data. In the final part of MI, inferences for parameter estimates are made based on simple rules developed by Rubin. These rules rely on the analyst having a calculable standard error for their parameter estimate for each imputed dataset. This is fine for standard analyses, e.g. regression models fitted by maximum likelihood, where standard errors based on asymptotic theory are easily calculated. However, for many analyses analytic standard errors are not available, or are prohibitive to find by analytical methods. For such methods, if there were no missing data, an attractive approach for finding standard errors and confidence intervals is the method of bootstrapping. However, if one is using MI to handle missing data, and would ordinarily use bootstrapping to find standard errors / confidence intervals, how should these be combined?
Jonathan Bartlett
Multiple imputation for missing covariates in Poisson regression
This week I’ve released a new version of the smcfcs package for R on CRAN. SMC-FCS performs multiple imputation for missing covariates in regression models, using an adaption of the chained equations / fully conditional specification approach to imputation, which we called Substantive Model Compatible Fully Conditional Specification MI.
The new version of smcfcs now supports Poisson regression outcome / substantive models, which are often used for count outcomes. Future additions will add support for negative binomial regression models, which are often used to model over dispersed count outcomes, and also support for offsets, which are often needed when fitting count regression models.
On the missing at random assumption in longitudinal trials
The missing at random (MAR) assumption plays an extremely important role in the context of analysing datasets subject to missing data. Its importance lies primarily in the fact that if we are willing to assume data are MAR, we can identify (estimate) target parameters. There are a variety of methods for handling data which are assumed to be MAR. One approach is estimation of a model for the variables of interest using the method of maximum likelihood. In the context of randomised trials, primary analyses are sometimes based on methods which are valid under MAR, such linear mixed models (MMRM). A key concern however is whether the MAR assumption is plausibly valid in any given situation.