N-of-one clinical trials. The practice of environmental and occupational medicine.
The randomized clinical trial is the paradigm of causal documentation in clinical medicine. It spawned an extension, the "N-of-one clinical trial," used as diagnostic instrument in the clinical practice of internal medicine to demonstrate the presence or absence of truly beneficial treatment. The author presents an extension of the method to environmental and occupational medicine, provides an example, and discusses the limitations of the approach. A guideline and justification for the provision of such services is suggested.
Hodgson
M
M
Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington 06030.
D015984:Causality; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D004476:Ectodermal Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation