A county-level cross-sectional analysis of positive deviance to assess multiple population health outcomes in Indiana.

Objective: To test a positive deviance method to identify counties that are performing better than statistical expectations on a set of population health indicators.

Design: Quantitative, cross-sectional county-level secondary analysis of risk variables and outcomes in Indiana. Data are analysed using multiple linear regression to identify counties performing better or worse than expected given traditional risk indicators, with a focus on 'positive deviants' or counties performing better than expected.