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An easy to use method to approximate Poisson confidence limits

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Abstract

Despite the ever larger choice of softwares and statistical packages allowing fast and accurate computation of binomial and Poisson confidence limits, there is always a need for a simple and reliable formula allowing non-computerized computations. The method proposed in this paper is derived from the Freeman and Tukey’s variance stabilizing transformation for a random Poisson variable and adjusted for giving the best fit with the exact Poisson values. Despite its simplicity, allowing its use in any circumstances, this method provides very satisfactory results and a much better fit than classical formula based on the normal approximation, even if a continuity correction is used. It allows computation of Poisson confidence limits both for count or rates and proportions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de Pharmacologie, INSERM U657, Université Victor Segalen, 146, rue Léo Saignat, 33076, Bordeaux, France

    Bernard Bégaud, Karin Martin, Abdelilah Abouelfath & Nicholas Moore

  2. INSERM U657, 33076, Bordeaux, cedex, France

    Bernard Bégaud, Karin Martin, Abdelilah Abouelfath & Nicholas Moore

  3. CHU, 33076, Bordeaux, cedex, France

    Bernard Bégaud, Karin Martin & Nicholas Moore

  4. INSERM U472, 94807, Villejuif, France

    Pascale Tubert-Bitter

  5. Hôpital Paul Brousse, 94807, Villejuif, France

    Pascale Tubert-Bitter

  6. Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada

    Yola Moride

Authors
  1. Bernard Bégaud
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  2. Karin Martin
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  3. Abdelilah Abouelfath
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  4. Pascale Tubert-Bitter
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  5. Nicholas Moore
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  6. Yola Moride
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bernard Bégaud.

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Bégaud, B., Martin, K., Abouelfath, A. et al. An easy to use method to approximate Poisson confidence limits. Eur J Epidemiol 20, 213–216 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-004-6517-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-004-6517-4

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