What Is a Randomised Controlled Trial?
A randomised controlled trial (RCT) is a type of research study used to find out which treatments work best. It is considered the most reliable way to test whether a new treatment, device, medicine, or way of delivering care is better than what is already used. RCTs are used in many areas of health and medicine, and the results help doctors make safer and more effective decisions.
How Does an RCT Work?
In an RCT, people who agree to take part are placed into different groups. This is done using a process where people are allocated to a certain treatment randomly. Neither the researchers nor the participants choose which group someone goes into. This process is called randomisation. This is a well-established practice in medicine and research for many decades now, worldwide.
One group receives the new treatment being tested. The other group receives the current standard treatment or sometimes a placebo (a treatment with no active effect), depending on the study. Because the groups are similar at the start, any differences seen at the end of the study are likely to be caused by the treatment itself.
Often, RCTs are also blinded, meaning participants, researchers, or both do not know which treatment each person is receiving. This helps keep the results fair and unbiased.
Why Are RCTs Important?
RCTs are the gold standard in medical research because they reduce the risk of bias and provide the strongest evidence about what does and does not work. They help make sure that new treatments are genuinely beneficial and not harmful. Without RCTs, healthcare decisions might be based on guesswork or unreliable information.
Why Should Someone Take Part?
Taking part in an RCT is completely voluntary, but there are several reasons people choose to participate:
- Access to new treatments: Participants may receive promising new therapies before they become widely available.
- High-quality care: People in RCTs are often followed closely by healthcare professionals, which can lead to better monitoring of their condition.
- Helping others: By taking part, participants contribute to research that may improve treatment for future patients.
- Shaping the future of medicine: Results from RCTs influence guidelines, NHS practice, and global healthcare.
Benefits to Society
RCTs help ensure that healthcare money is spent on treatments that work. They protect patients from ineffective or harmful options and support the development of safer, more effective care.
By choosing to participate, individuals play a vital role in moving science forward and helping create better treatments for everyone.