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Related Concept Videos

Randomized Experiments01:13

Randomized Experiments

The randomization process involves assigning study participants randomly to experimental or control groups based on their probability of being equally assigned. Randomization is meant to eliminate selection bias and balance known and unknown confounding factors so that the control group is similar to the treatment group as much as possible. A computer program and a random number generator can be used to assign participants to groups in a way that minimizes bias.
Simple randomization
Simple...
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches01:23

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Blinding01:11

Blinding

Blinding is a commonly used method of not telling participants which treatment a subject is receiving. Blinding is a critical part of a randomized control trial or RCT. It reduces the bias that affects the results. In an RCT, blinding is used in the form of a placebo. A placebo effect occurs when untreated subjects falsely believe they have received the treatment and report improved symptoms. A placebo or a dummy treatment is administered to subjects to negate the bias caused by such an effect.
Clinical Trials01:16

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
Hazard Ratio01:12

Hazard Ratio

The hazard ratio (HR) is a widely used measure in clinical trials to compare the risk of events, such as death or disease recurrence, between two groups over time. It reflects the ratio of hazard rates—the instantaneous risk of the event occurring—between a treatment group and a control group. This measure provides valuable insights into the relative effectiveness of a treatment by assessing how the risk of an event differs between the two groups.
For example, in a clinical trial evaluating a...
Causality in Epidemiology01:21

Causality in Epidemiology

Causality or causation is a fundamental concept in epidemiology, vital for understanding the relationships between various factors and health outcomes. Despite its importance, there's no single, universally accepted definition of causality within the discipline. Drawing from a systematic review, causality in epidemiology encompasses several definitions, including production, necessary and sufficient, sufficient-component, counterfactual, and probabilistic models. Each has its strengths and...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Evidence-based Knowledge Synthesis and Hypothesis Validation: Navigating Biomedical Knowledge Bases via Explainable AI and Agentic Systems
05:47

Evidence-based Knowledge Synthesis and Hypothesis Validation: Navigating Biomedical Knowledge Bases via Explainable AI and Agentic Systems

Published on: June 13, 2025

Fortuitous phenomena: on complexity, pragmatic randomised controlled trials, and knowledge for evidence-based

Carl Thompson1

  • 1Centre for Evidence-Based Nursing, University of York, UK. cat4@york.ac.uk

Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing
|December 7, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Pragmatic randomized controlled trials are essential for generating evidence on complex nursing interventions. These trials effectively address the knowns and unknowns in complex healthcare situations, providing robust knowledge for practice development.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Evidence-based Knowledge Synthesis and Hypothesis Validation: Navigating Biomedical Knowledge Bases via Explainable AI and Agentic Systems
05:47

Evidence-based Knowledge Synthesis and Hypothesis Validation: Navigating Biomedical Knowledge Bases via Explainable AI and Agentic Systems

Published on: June 13, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Nursing Science
  • Healthcare Research Methodology

Background:

  • Nursing interventions often operate within complex and uncertain environments.
  • Understanding and managing this complexity is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To advocate for pragmatic randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as the primary method for generating evidence on complex nursing interventions.
  • To address challenges and provide solutions for implementing RCTs in nursing research.

Main Methods:

  • The article argues for the use of pragmatic randomized controlled trials.
  • It uses practice development as a case study for complexity.
  • Methodological solutions are proposed for common challenges in RCT implementation.

Main Results:

  • Randomized controlled trials are presented as the most suitable design for handling the inherent complexities and uncertainties in nursing interventions.
  • The article outlines a framework and solutions for methodological issues encountered in RCTs within nursing.

Conclusions:

  • Randomized controlled trials provide the most robust foundation for primary research knowledge regarding complex nursing interventions.
  • Despite methodological challenges, RCTs are vital for understanding the effects and active components of these interventions.