What does “Randomised controlled trial” mean?
A study in which participants are randomly assigned to receive a treatment or a comparator, allowing cause and effect to be assessed.
Randomised controlled trial in plain English
A study in which participants are randomly assigned to receive a treatment or a comparator, allowing cause and effect to be assessed.
Randomisation is what distinguishes a trial from an observation: it balances known and unknown differences between groups, so a difference in outcome can be attributed to the treatment.
In this field the controlled trials that exist are mostly small and short. That is the central limitation of the evidence base, and it is why honest guidance hedges.
Frequently asked questions
What does randomised controlled trial mean?
A study in which participants are randomly assigned to receive a treatment or a comparator, allowing cause and effect to be assessed.
Sources and further reading
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