Randomized Clinical Trials: why do we need to appropriate this method?

Abstract

Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) are studies designed to assess the efficacy of a therapeutic or prophylactic intervention on a given outcome. They are considered the gold standard for testing the effects of a pharmacological treatment, an educational action, an exercise, a care measure, a behavior or a lifestyle. The effects tested can include reduction in mortality and morbidity rates, relief of clinical symptoms, improvement in quality of life, improvement in functional capacity, gain in knowledge, change in behavior, effect on healing, and reduction of parameters such as weight, blood pressure, lipid profile and blood glucose, among many other outcomes that matter to patients, individuals and the community.