title: [Goals and methods of clinical studies].
abstract: The validity of clinical patient-oriented research is always threatened by the influence of bias, confounding factors or random effects that might distort the results. However, the susceptibility to distortion varies between different study designs. The best protection against spurious relationships or distorted results are specific focused research questions and rigorous integration of sound study methodology during the design and performance phase.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik m. S. Nephrologie Charité, Mitte, Berlin. regina.kunz@charite.de
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kunz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zink
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015982:Bias; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors