Analysis of Waiting-Time Data in Health Services Research

Why some patients wait longer than others remains an important question in health services research. This book is a reference for health services researchers looking for statistical tools with which to study waiting times. The book provides detailed coverage of statistical concepts and methods for the analysis and interpretation of waiting-time data: time-to-event analysis, discrete time regression models, competing risks, and pseudovalues regression models. The book will also be useful for professionals and research workers in health care industry, who will find a collection of examples of waiting-time data analysis in health services research. It gives a practical perspective on how to describe and compare waiting experiences, how to study the impact of factors associated with waiting times, and how to use appropriate statistical techniques in practical terms, i.e., from a study question through interpretation of results.