Randomised Controlled Trial

A Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) is a type of scientific experiment used to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions such as new treatments or lifestyle changes. During an RCT, participants are randomly assigned to groups and one group receives the intervention while the other group is assigned to the control group, which may or may not receive a placebo. The results of the trial are then compared between the two groups to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. RCTs are the gold standard for evidence-based medicine and are used to determine the efficacy of drugs, medical treatments, and lifestyle changes. They are also used to evaluate the safety of healthcare products and procedures. RCTs help provide robust evidence on the effectiveness of treatments and interventions and are used to inform practice and policies in healthcare.