Randomised controlled trials RCTs

This is the classic randomised controlled trial (RCT), the most secure method for drawing a causal inference about the effects of treatments. Randomisation attempts to control biases of various kinds when assessing the effects of treatments. RCTs are employed at all phases of drug development and in the various types and designs of trials discussed below. 

Watson, M.C. Bond, C. Grimshaw, J.M. Molli.son, J. Ludbrook, A. Educational Strategies to Promote Evidence-Based Practice A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT). In Health Services Research and Pharmacy Practice Conference Proceedings, 2001. 

TC As were used for many years in the management of anxiety, though no large-sized randomised controlled trials (RCTs) until the 1980s. 

Effectiveness shown in randomised controlled trials (RCTs). 

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were devised to measure drug efBcacy and probably offer the greatest precision. However, they are not without problems and alternative approaches may be sufficient or optimum, depending on the specific clinical question. RCTs measure chnical efficacy (how well a drag works in ideal conditions). Pragmatic (or naturahstic) trials measure clinical effectiveness (how well a drag works in usual chnical practice). 

Clarification of the controversial literature could be achieved by new prospective randomised control trials (RCT) with clearly defined sensitive and objective outcomes, larger sample size, longer duration of therapy, homogeneity in thyroid disease xmder treatment and consistency in the levothyroxine/T3 ratio, all factors lacking in earlier trials. Combination therapy requires creative insights into new formulations that will mimic physiology thyroid hormone levels. 

The collection of cost data includes not only the collection the prices of the resources used but also the quantity of resources used. As with health outcome data, cost data can also be collected from Randomised Controlled Trials. The problem with obtaining costs from these RCTs is that, as noted above, they lack external validity and instead of reflecting costs associated with regular patient management and resource use, the costs obtained from RCTs may be protocol-driven. 

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in people with diabetes [1], This high-risk population is more likely to suffer a fatal event as the first manifestation of myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke, making primary prevention a priority. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis-related disease is multifactorial but dyslipidaemia is a common and important risk predictor and is open to therapeutic intervention. Pharmacological intervention is supported by major randomised, controlled clinical trials (RCTs) of primary and secondary CVD prevention. RCTs with statin drugs have demonstrated unequivocal benefit in reducing major coronary events and stroke. 

A multi-centre study [43] carried out a randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial. Patients received a single infusion of 90 mg of pamidronate or placebo (saline) foot temperatures, symptoms and markers of bone turnover (bone-specific alkaline phosphates and deoxypyridinoline cross links) were measured over the 12 months, in ten visits. There results were extremely promising showing bisphosphonate, pamidronate, given as a single dose leads to a reduction in bone turnover. A recent RCT carried out in 2005 [44] concluded that alendronate taken orally 70 mg once weekly over a... 

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