title: Randomized controlled trials: methodological concepts and critique.
abstract: Randomized controlled trials, also known as true experiments or intervention studies, are considered to be the gold standard research design for demonstrating a cause-and-effect relationship between an intervention and an outcome. This article will describe key methodological concepts that make the randomized controlled trial this gold standard. Practicing from an evidence-based perspective requires practitioners to be able to critique the strengths and weaknesses of a research study in order to make decisions about adoption of the intervention into one's practice area. Key components to the critique of a randomized controlled trial are defined and the process is illustrated by a critique of Gallo and colleagues article, A Study of Naloxone Effect on Urinary Retention in the Patient Receiving Morphine PCA, published in this issue.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Susan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Salmond
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects; D003625:Data Collection; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016530:Orthopedic Nursing; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing; D011897:Random Allocation; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine