Controlled Clinical Trials — Introduction

Abstract

The goal of this symposium on controlled clinical trials in pediatric nephrology and urology is two-fold. First, to present the design and, when possible, some results of several surveys and trials in progress. Second, to seize the opportunity to stress the importance of medical surveys and controlled clinical trials and, perhaps, most importantly, to examine some of the principles and practices of their design and methods. We are very fortunate in having Dr. Curtis Meinert as a participant in the symposium. Dr. Meinert is Editor-in-Chief of the new Journal, Controlled Clinical Trials, the official Journal of the newly-found Society for Clinical Trials. We have asked Dr. Meinert to discuss design and methods for controlled clinical trials, drawing examples, wherever possible, from the studies presented by the other participants.