Reading and Interpreting the Literature on Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Readers of papers describing the design, methods, or results of randomized controlled trials should exercise critical caution in interpreting what the authors have written. Readers should pay particular attention to important aspects of the design, including the scientific rationale of the study, the choice of control group, the selection of the primary and secondary outcomes, and the planned length of follow-up. In reviewing a paper describing the results of a trial, the reader should ensure that the paper describes the degree of fidelity to the protocol, the amount of missing data along with the methods used to deal with any missing data, the