title: Use of control groups in evaluating the effectiveness of community health programs in primary care.
abstract: This paper illustrates the use of control groups in evaluative studies in primary care. Examples are given of an experimental design using randomization, of quasiexperimental studies using a time series design, of external comparison groups, and of a combination of these, as well as of matching.
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D002662:Child Health Services; D003153:Community Health Services; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011897:Random Allocation; D012107:Research Design