Controlled trial

A controlled trial (pronounced: kənˈtrōld ˈtrīəl) is a type of scientific experiment that is conducted to compare the effects of a specific intervention or treatment with a control group that does not receive the intervention. The term originates from the English words "control" and "trial", indicating a test or experiment where one group is under control conditions.

Definition

In a controlled trial, participants are randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group. The experimental group receives the intervention or treatment being studied, while the control group does not. The control group may receive a placebo, or no treatment at all. The results of the two groups are then compared to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.

Types of Controlled Trials

There are several types of controlled trials, including:

Randomized controlled trial (RCT): This is the most rigorous type of controlled trial. Participants are randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control group. This helps to ensure that any differences in outcomes between the groups are due to the intervention, and not other factors.

Non-randomized controlled trial (NRCT): In this type of trial, participants are not randomly assigned to groups. This can lead to bias, as there may be differences between the groups that are not related to the intervention.

Crossover trial: In this type of trial, participants receive both the intervention and the control treatment, but in a random order. This allows each participant to serve as their own control.

Importance of Controlled Trials

Controlled trials are a key component of evidence-based medicine. They provide the most reliable evidence on the effectiveness of interventions, as they control for other factors that could influence the results. This makes them a gold standard in clinical research.

Limitations of Controlled Trials

While controlled trials are a powerful tool in research, they also have limitations. These include the potential for selection bias, the difficulty in blinding participants and researchers, and the fact that they can be expensive and time-consuming to conduct.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Controlled trial
Wikipedia's article - Controlled trial

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski

Controlled trial