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The evaluation of trials of medical therapy

A didactic guide to nonsense detection

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Summary

THE published results of therapeutic trials are the basis on which changes in medical practice are made today. The clinican is, therefore, required to read and critically assess large numbers of these and the magnitude of this task is daunting.

Our aim is to provide a quick but systematic method of identifying papers worthy of further evaluation. We then outline an approach to deciding whether the results of a therapeutic trial are likely to be both true and useful.

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Kay, E.W., Moore, D. & Graham, I.M. The evaluation of trials of medical therapy. I.J.M.S. 154, 71–79 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02937146

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