Although randomized controlled trials (RCTs) play a key role in modern medicine, considerable variability exists in their quality and in the reliability (reproducibility) of their results. The present article discusses features that characterize high-quality trials, such as intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis, the avoidance of patient exclusions, and a procedure for evaluating the reliability of stu...

We study reactions to entry in a Cournot model, contrasting the case where firms are endowed with unchangeable technologies against that where technologies are flexible. By the latter we mean that firms can change the installed production technique at zero cost (fully flexible technologies). We show that when firms are technologically flexible, entry can increase equilibrium prices. The analysi...

The concept of evidence-based medicine has gained broad support in the medical community, because clinical decisions based on information from rigorous scientific study are most likely to provide optimal care. Researchers attempt to answer clinical questions using either observational studies or randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Observational studies currently dominate the surgical literatur...

The CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) Statement aims to improve the reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCTs); however, it lacks guidance on the reporting of patient-reported outcomes (PROs), which are often inadequately reported in trials, thus limiting the value of these data. In this article, we describe the development of the CONSORT PRO extension based on the meth...

OBJECTIVE Poor patient adherence to lipid-lowering medication is a major contributory factor in the lack of success in treating hyperlipidaemia. The objective of this review was to assess the effect of adherence-enhancing interventions for lipid-lowering medication. DESIGN Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). DATA SOURCES Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (...

OBJECTIVE The researchers sought to assess whether the widely used 1994 Cochrane Highly Sensitive Search Strategy (HSSS) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in MEDLINE could be improved in terms of sensitivity, precision, or parsimony. METHODS A gold standard of 1,347 RCT records and a comparison group of 2,400 non-trials were randomly selected from MEDLINE. Terms occurring in at least 1%...

The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy welcomes submissions of well-reported randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with solid methodology based on the CONSORT statement (http://www.consort-statement.org). The Journal would be especially happy to publish RCTs in the area of antimicrobial chemotherapy if they address significant problems and look at measurable outcomes that matter to patients.

This critical review examines efficacy of CILT in comparison to traditional treatment methods for adults with aphasia as well as the efficacy of modified versions of the original CILT protocol. Study designs include: individual series pre-post treatment (3), mixed randomized clinical trial (RCT) (2), mixed non-randomized clinical trial (NRCT) (2), mixed randomized block (1) designs. Overall, re...

In a number of important clinical issues such as evaluation of the efficacy or effectiveness of therapeutic or preventive interventions as well as for comparing the harms of interventions, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) provide the highest levels of evidence, either directly or indirectly. It is obvious that critical appraisal of these studies to assess their validity and precision is of p...

materials and methods in a randomized clinical trial, 60 patients, scheduled for cesarean section were randomly divided in to 2 groups gum-chewing group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) postoperatively. the patients in the gum-chewing group postoperatively chewed sugar free gum 3 times daily each time for 1 hour until discharge. the patients' demographic characteristics, duration of sur...