title: [Clinical trials: methodological requirements and interpretation].
abstract: Clinical trials are performed to answer a large variety of questions. Of special relevance is their use in testing and estimating the benefit of medical interventions. Clinical trials are necessary for drugs, non-drug interventions, prevention and screening as well as diagnostic tests. The fundamentals of clinical trials are very old. Methods have been developed and improved during recent decades. This article describes essentials of modern clinical trial methodology.
authors.affiliation: Medizinischer Dienst des Spitzenverbandes Bund der Krankenkassen, Lützowstrasse 53, 45141, Essen. j.windeler@mds-ev.de
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Windeler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lange