Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Therapeutic Massage for Psychological Well-being in Geriatric Oncology
Published on: May 22, 2026
[Generalizability of therapeutic trials]
O M Dekkers1, J P Vandenbroucke
1Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, afd. Klinische Epidemiologie, Post-bus 9600, 2300 RC Leiden. o.m.dekkers@lumc.nl
Abstract:
The external validity of a therapeutic trial addresses whether the study results may be applicable to other patients beyond the original study population. The inclusion criteria of the original study are a good indicator of the extent to which new patients are comparable with the study population, based on key characteristics. If the patients included in the study are not representative of the target population, the external validity is limited. The external validity can also be limited by study aspects that are not related to the inclusion criteria, such as the treatment protocol, the treatment centre, or the country in which the original study was performed. In exceptional cases the external validity can involve patients that would have been excluded in the original study.
Related Concept Videos
Clinical Trials
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
Bioequivalence of Drugs: Drugs with Multiple Indications
Clinical Trials: Overview
Elements Crucial for Effective Psychotherapy
The Therapeutic Alliance
The therapeutic alliance refers to the relationship between the therapist and the client. The alliance strengthens when the therapist and the client engage in a nurturing, supportive, trusting, empathetic, and respectful relationship, improving therapeutic outcomes. Therapists must monitor this relationship...
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
The Placebo Effect