appropriate statistical method needed

Posted by drfg2008 on Feb 23, 2011; 9:03pm
URL: http://spssx-discussion.165.s1.nabble.com/appropriate-statistical-method-needed-tp3397707.html



For a Phase II drug trial an appropriate statistical method is sought.

The following Background:

In a research on the acidity of gastric juice during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery a drug has been used and tested for efficacy.

During the entire operation the acidity of gastric juice should remain in a non-hazardous area. Neither the pH value should be too high nor too low. Maximum and minimum limits are given.

The sample was relatively small. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups of 20 persons each group. One group did not receive the drug, the other group did. The 40 operations lasted different lengths. Every second a probe of the stomach pH was measured. There are therefore 40 time series of different lengths of pH values.

Question: It is to be examined whether the pH values could be stabilized due to the drug for the entire duration of the operation within the safe area. The effectiveness compared with the control group without drug is to be demonstrated.

Which procedure, which method would be in question here?