2.8. Statistical Analysis
REGRESSION
Descriptive analysis included original means, standard deviations, and contingency tables to summarize the frequencies presented by three timepoints and two treatment groups (intervention vs. control).We used Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) [GEE can be used to fit regression models to handle correlated outcomes when repeated measurements of the same subject are performed over time, and to adjust for missing values. The coefficients with standard errors for each timepoint, group, and time*group interaction are reported. GEE model-based multiple comparisons adjusting for the missing values were conducted. The mean differences were reported for continuous variables and the odds ratios were reported for categorical variables. The means and frequencies derived from the models varied slighted from the original means and frequencies after adjuring for missing values; the results are presented in For all analyses, the criterion for statistical significance was set as Data were analyzed using STATA 16.1 and R.4.03 (R Core Team. R: A language and environment for statistical computing (R Foundation for Statistical Computing. 