Channeling bias is a type of allocation bias which may cause one treatment to appear better than another.
Situation: use of a drug or therapy is not done randomly. A particular therapy is used on a patient because of a factor that directly impacts the final outcome.
Examples:
(1) A treatment is not used if the patient is high risk.
(2) A new medication is used in one group with medical insurance but not in someone without insurance.
This may be done intentionally or accidentally.
Consequences:
(1) one treatment may appear to have a higher rate of adverse effects than another if it is used in a higher risk group
(2) one treatment may appear to be more effective than another if it is used in a group with mild disease
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