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- Title
Why we need observational studies to evaluate the effectiveness of health care.
- Authors
Black, N
- Abstract
The view is widely held that experimental methods (randomised controlled trials) are the "gold standard" for evaluation and that observational methods (cohort and case control studies) have little or no value. This ignores the limitations of randomised trials, which may prove unnecessary, inappropriate, impossible, or inadequate. Many of the problems of conducting randomised trials could often, in theory, be overcome, but the practical implications for researchers and funding bodies mean that this is often not possible. The false conflict between those who advocate randomised trials in all situations and those who believe observational data provide sufficient evidence needs to be replaced with mutual recognition of the complementary roles of the two approaches. Researchers should be united in their quest for scientific rigour in evaluation, regardless of the method used.
- Publication
BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 1996, Vol 312, Issue 7040, p1215
- ISSN
0959-8138
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1136/bmj.312.7040.1215