In this paper, we propose a new generalized gamma-exponential frailty model which is a general case of the classical frailty model given by Winke [1] and Gupta and Gupta [3]. In classical frailty model, modeling hazard rate is considered but here we consider directly modeling of conditional survival function given the frailty. Our model also includes the classical model in some special cases. We carryout a simulation study and then discuss fitting of the model on data of the recurrence times to infection, at the point of insertion of the catheter, for kidney patients using portable dialysis equipment.

frailty, proportional hazard, E-M algorithm, likelihood ratio test, goodness of fit of the model.