Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Pragmatic versus explanatory trials.

K D MacRae

    International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care
    |December 10, 1988
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    This study differentiates between explanatory and pragmatic clinical trials. Pragmatic trials, focused on real-world treatment choices, often take precedence over explanatory trials when aims conflict.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Oxygen supplementation before or after submaximal exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

    Thorax·2003
    Same author

    Predictors of seropositivity to herpes simplex virus type 2 in women.

    International journal of STD & AIDS·2003
    Same author

    The risk of liver damage associated with minocycline: a comparative study.

    Journal of clinical pharmacology·2001
    Same author

    The effects of age, body mass index, smoking and general health on the risk of venous thromboembolism in users of combined oral contraceptives.

    The European journal of contraception & reproductive health care : the official journal of the European Society of Contraception·2001
    Same author

    Sexual behaviour in women attending a genitourinary medicine clinic. 1988.

    Sexually transmitted infections·2000
    Same author

    A comparison of the risks of venous thromboembolic disease in association with different combined oral contraceptives.

    British journal of clinical pharmacology·2000
    Same journal

    Measuring, Valuing, and Incorporating Patient and Caregiver Productivity Costs in Economic Evaluations: A Scoping Review and Environmental Scan.

    International journal of technology assessment in health care·2026
    Same journal

    ASSESSING COST EFFECTIVENESS IN ONCOLOGY TREATMENT SEQUENCES: A REVIEW OF PATHWAY MODELLING METHODS FOR HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT.

    International journal of technology assessment in health care·2026
    Same journal

    Practice and challenges of HB-HTA in China: insights from hospital management and clinical perspectives.

    International journal of technology assessment in health care·2026
    Same journal

    Policy Dialogue on Health Technology Assessment in Middle East and North Africa: Reporting from an HTAi initiative.

    International journal of technology assessment in health care·2026
    Same journal

    What is new in the early health technology assessment's new definition?

    International journal of technology assessment in health care·2026
    Same journal

    Incorporating climate impact in health care decisions: new criteria to be tested in the Netherlands.

    International journal of technology assessment in health care·2026
    See all related articles

    Area of Science:

    • Clinical Trials Methodology
    • Evidence-Based Medicine
    • Health Services Research

    Background:

    • Clinical trials serve dual purposes: testing biological hypotheses (explanatory) and guiding treatment decisions (pragmatic).
    • The design of clinical trials must carefully consider these distinct aims.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To delineate the differences between explanatory and pragmatic aims in clinical trial design.
    • To discuss how these aims influence key trial components like treatment selection, patient recruitment, and statistical analysis.
    • To establish a framework for prioritizing pragmatic considerations in clinical trial development.

    Main Methods:

    • Conceptual analysis of clinical trial objectives.
    • Discussion of methodological implications for trial design elements.

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Comparative examination of explanatory versus pragmatic trial approaches.

    • Main Results:

    • Explanatory trials focus on biological mechanisms and internal validity.
    • Pragmatic trials prioritize external validity and real-world applicability for treatment policy decisions.
    • Conflicts between explanatory and pragmatic aims are common in trial design.

    Conclusions:

    • Pragmatic considerations are often paramount when designing clinical trials intended to inform treatment choices.
    • Trial design elements, including patient selection and comparison methods, should align with the primary aim.
    • Prioritizing pragmatic aims enhances the utility of clinical trial evidence for healthcare decision-making.