Doubly Robust Quadratic Inference Functions for Causal Inference in Cluster Randomized Trials

Quadratic inference functions (QIF) provide a robust and efficient alternative to generalized estimating equations (GEE) for marginal regression with correlated data, particularly in cluster randomized trials (CRTs).

However, existing QIF methodology does not account for confounding due to covariate imbalance between treatment arms, a common concern in observational CRTs or CRTs with prognostic covariate adjustment.

We propose a doubly robust QIF (DR-QIF) estimator that combines doubly robust pseudo-outcomes, constructed from propensity score and outcome regression models, with the QIF extended score equations.

The DR-QIF estimator is consistent for the average treatment effect when either the propensity score model or the outcome regression model is correctly specified, but not necessarily both.

We show that DR-QIF is more efficient than doubly robust GEE (DR-GEE) when the working correlation structure is misspecified, and we characterize the asymptotic efficiency gain analytically.

For cross-sectional CRTs the two estimators are algebraically identical; efficiency gains emerge in longitudinal CRTs with strong temporal correlation, reaching 3.5% at N=120 and T=8 repeated measures.

Finite-sample properties are evaluated via Monte Carlo simulation, and the method is illustrated using data from the WASH Benefits Kenya cluster randomized trial.