Similarly, risk assessment can be used as part of a standardisation tool to allow comparison of outcomes between different surgeons or hospitals who are undertaking similar procedures.
It is recommended that the development of joint research activities and joint training programmes between EMPRES/WR and EMPRES/CR should be considered to ensure efficient use of resources, standardisation of approaches and a more general exchange of ideas.
This training took place to exchange practical experiences, and to pay extra attention to the use of clinimetrics, standardisation and optimisation of the protocol, as well as getting an introductory session on the use of the electronic patient file in the web-based database.
Furthermore, use of a portable QUS machine avoided standardisation issues which could have been a major problem had we used multiple DXA instruments at different sites.
The use of a centralised call centre enables standardisation of procedures to be easily achieved with constant quality assurance, outcome monitoring and data collection built into the operational system.
With the use of age standardisation and the relative survival methodology, the impact of age differences should be minimised.
Thus, although Natsal-3 has a large sample size overall, the number of participants eligible for this study may have limited our ability to detect statistically signficant differences, especially given our use of age standardisation and multivariable regression.
Examples of the use of regression standardisation include describing variation in practice admission rates [ 12]; measuring income related quality of life [ 13]; measuring inequity in the delivery of healthcare [ 14]; and calculating hospital mortality ratios, adjusting for age, sex, diagnosis, admission method and length of stay [ 15, 16].
The study has stringent methodological safeguards against bias including: use of a centralised randomisation system; blinding data analysts and the Steering Committee; standardisation and documentation; use of strategies to limit loss to follow-up; and adjudication of trial events by an independent Central Adjudication Committee.
The aim of this project was to design and implement an assessment model that integrates the distinctive elements of the use of immersive technology, standardisation of evaluation tools, multiple observers, and remote assessment.
