Experimental studies: Randomized controlled trials – Part I

Blindness in Randomized Controlled Trials

In combination with randomization, blinding or masking is an important factor in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), particularly in trials that assess therapeutic effects. Here an attempt is made to explain blindness and why it is important. In clinical trials, blinding is defined as the condition imposed on a study in which study participants, health care providers and assessors collecting o...

blindness in randomized controlled trials

in combination with randomization, blinding or masking is an important factor in randomized controlled trials (rcts), particularly in trials that assess therapeutic effects. here an attempt is made to explain blindness and why it is important. in clinical trials, blinding is defined as the condition imposed on a study in which study participants, health care providers and assessors collecting o...

Dual-Controller Regimens I: Data From Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trials

Observational studies: going beyond the boundaries of randomized controlled trials.

The term observational study describes a wide range of study designs including prospective and retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies, and cross-sectional studies, a defining feature of which is that any intervention studied is determined by clinical practice and not the protocol. Data from large, prospective observational studies provide information about the safety and efficacy of...

A comparison of observational studies and randomized, controlled trials

BACKGROUND For many years it has been claimed that observational studies find stronger treatment effects than randomized, controlled trials. We compared the results of observational studies with those of randomized, controlled trials. METHODS We searched the Abridged Index Medicus and Cochrane data bases to identify observational studies reported between 1985 and 1998 that compared two or mor...