Conducting randomized trials in general practice: methodological and practical issues.
The evaluation of the outcome of health services technologies is a requirement for their efficient provision in clinical practice. The most reliable evidence for treatment efficacy comes from randomized trials. Randomized trials in general practice pose particular methodological and practical difficulties. In this paper, we discuss how best to plan and manage a clinical trial in this setting. We base our discussion on our experience of conducting randomized trials to evaluate the effectiveness of brief psychotherapy in general practice.
Ward
E
E
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London.
King
M
M
Lloyd
M
M
Bower
P
P
Friedli
K
K
D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D010358:Patient Participation; D018579:Patient Selection; D011897:Random Allocation; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*