Research Methods in Healthcare Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Stewardship: Randomized Controlled Trials.
Randomized controlled trials (RCT) produce the strongest level of clinical evidence when comparing interventions. RCTs are technically difficult, costly, and require specific considerations including the use of patient- and cluster-level randomization and outcome selection. In this methods paper, we focus on key considerations for RCT methods in healthcare epidemiology and antimicrobial stewardship (HE&AS) research, including the need for cluster randomization, conduct at multiple sites, behavior modification interventions, and difficulty with identifying appropriate outcomes. We review key RCTs in HE&AS with a focus on advantages and disadvantages of methods used. A checklist is provided to aid in the development of RCTs in HE&AS. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:629-634.
1Duke University Medical Center,Division of Infectious Diseases,Durham,North Carolina.
Deverick J
DJ
Anderson
2Yale University School of Medicine,Department of Internal Medicine,Section of Infectious Diseases,New Haven,Connecticut.
Manisha
M
Juthani-Mehta
3VA Maryland Healthcare System and University of Maryland School of Medicine,Baltimore,Maryland.
Daniel J
DJ
Morgan
D000073602:Antimicrobial Stewardship / Q000379:methods; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*