Background: In this paper we propose the use of the within-subject coefficient of variation as an index of a measurement's reliability. For continuous variables and based on its maximum likelihood estimation we derive a variance-stabilizing transformation and discuss confidence interval...

In many community-based surveys, multi-level sampling is inherent inthe design. In the design of these studies, especially to calculate theappropriate sample size, investigators need good estimates ofintra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), along with the cluster size,to adjust for variation...

A cross-sectional study design was used to investigate psychosocial effects in the population exposed to PCB contamination and remediation in Smithville, Ontario, Canada. Psychosocial effects were defined as the complex of distress, dysfunction and disability manifested in a wide range of...

Background - The geographic distribution of health care funding in Canada has traditionally been based on past allocations and the distribution of health care facilities and providers. Whether this approach has succeeded in distributing resources among populations in keeping with relative health...