Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
What does 'non-inferior to' really mean? A clinician thinking out loud
1UO Neurologia, Citta' di Castello, Italy. istitaly@unipg.it
Abstract:
As clinicians, we are frequently faced with papers stating that something is 'non-inferior' to something else. By definition, a non-inferiority trial aims to demonstrate that the test product is not worse than the comparator by more than a small pre-specified amount. This amount is known as the non-inferiority margin, or delta. Clinicians must know who has chosen the margin, and why. Only when the advantages of the trial treatment clearly overcome the amount of 'worsening' which is implicit in the concept of non-inferiority and delta can we recommend this new 'non-inferior' (or, rather, 'just a little bit worse') treatment to our patients.
Related Concept Videos
Critical Thinking II
Patient-centered Care
Critical Thinking I
Directional Terms
Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution itself.
Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare: