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How to use directed acyclic graphs (DAGs), a guide for clinical researchers

Feeney, Timothy; Hartwig, Fernando; Davies, Neil M; (2024) How to use directed acyclic graphs (DAGs), a guide for clinical researchers. British Medical Journal (The BMJ) (In press).

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Abstract

Directed Acyclic Graphs are commonly used to illustrate and assess the hypothesised causal relationships in health and social research. They can illuminate an investigator’s assumptions and help clearly describe each possible explanation for associations observed in data given the researcher’s assumptions, ranging from causal relationships to confounding and selection bias, and thereby aid in identifying variables that can be used to reduce them. We explain how to construct, interpret, and present DAGs as part of clinical research studies and how they can help communicate a study's strengths or limitations.

Type: Article
Title: How to use directed acyclic graphs (DAGs), a guide for clinical researchers
Publisher version: https://www.bmj.com/
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Division of Psychiatry
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Division of Psychiatry > Epidemiology and Applied Clinical Research
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10193453
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