Preamble

Description

Propensity score matching is widely used in analyzing observational datasets to reduce the impact of confounding due to observed covariates. This workshop will provide a basic overview of related causal inference concepts, explain propensity score matching analysis steps, illustrate propensity score matching diagnostics, and provide examples of when this method may be preferable to a regression.

Main references

We present may references inside, but the following are the key references

• Propensity score matching steps
• Reporting guideline

Version history

Materials were updated over time through various deliveries of the content:

Also see further resources at the very end of the document.

Prerequisites

The prerequisites are knowledge of multiple regression analysis and basic probability. Software demonstrations and codes will be provided in R, although proficiency in R is not required for understanding the concepts. If you are not familiar with R, and want to gain further understanding, I would suggest the following tutorial.

R tutorial

Karim ME, Hoang A and Qu Y “Introduction to R for health data analysis” URL: ehsanx.github.io/intro2R/

Packages that we will use in this demonstration:

# devtools::install_github('osofr/simcausal', build_vignettes = FALSE)
require(simcausal)
require(summarytools)
require(skimr)
require(jtools)
require(cobalt)
require(tableone)
require(MatchIt)
require(twang)
require(Matching)
require(SuperLearner)
require(ltmle)
require(DoubleML)
require(AIPW)
require(ggplot2)
library(mlr3)
library(mlr3learners)

License

The online version of this book is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. You may share, adapt the content and may distribute your contributions under the same license (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0), but you have to give appropriate credit, and cannot use material for the commercial purposes.

How to cite

Karim, ME (2021) “Understanding Propensity Score Matching,” URL: ehsanx.github.io/psw/

Comments

For any comments regarding this document, reach out to me.

References

———. 2011a. “A Tutorial and Case Study in Propensity Score Analysis: An Application to Estimating the Effect of in-Hospital Smoking Cessation Counseling on Mortality.” Multivariate Behavioral Research 46 (1): 119–51.
Karim, Mohammad Ehsanul, Fabio Pellegrini, Robert W Platt, Gabrielle Simoneau, Julie Rouette, and Carl de Moor. 2020. “The Use and Quality of Reporting of Propensity Score Methods in Multiple Sclerosis Literature: A Review.” Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 1352458520972557.