Indirect standardization is a statistical method used to compare mortality or disease rates between populations that may differ in age distribution. This technique allows for fair comparisons by applying the age-specific rates of a standard population to the observed population's age distribution, ultimately producing a standardized rate that reflects the expected number of events if the observed population had the same age-specific rates as the standard population. This method is essential in understanding how crude and specific rates relate to adjusted rates, allowing for a clearer interpretation of health data across diverse groups.
congrats on reading the definition of indirect standardization. now let's actually learn it.