The document discusses treatment evaluation and placebo effects, noting that placebos can produce real physiological or psychological effects through mechanisms like expectations, conditioning, and personality factors, even when a person knows they are taking an inert substance. Placebos have been shown to be effective for a wide range of conditions from depression to pain to irritable bowel syndrome. While placebos may be pharmacologically inert, they are not necessarily psychologically or therapeutically inert.
2. Treatment Evaluation
Measuring the Impact of Interventions
on Outcomes of Interest
BUSINESS LAW
Intervention: Participation in a Intervention: Adding hard labour to
Leadership Training Program sentences for minor crimes (stealing)
Impact: Productivity of a Company Impact: Crime rate for minor crimes
3. Treatment Evaluation
Measuring the Impact of Interventions
on Outcomes of Interest
MEDICINE BEHAVIORAL TRAINING
Intervention: New Drug for Coughs Intervention: Social training in Autism
Impact: Cough Symptoms Impact: Social Skills
4. Treatment Evaluation:
EXPERIMENT
A means to identify cause-and-effect
relationships between events and/or
behaviors
Follow a set of rules and guidelines that
reduce the possibility of errors, biases &
chance occurrences
Advantages:
(1) Less error/bias prone than case
studies, surveys or observational methods
(2) Most reliable method for identifying
cause-and effect relationships
Disadvantages:
(1) Problems in Generalization: Results
from one situation may not apply to
another situation
5. Treatment Evaluation:
EXPERIMENT
Are there Differences in the Emotional
Reactions of Men and Women when
watching Thrillers versus Romantic Films?
18 18 18
15 15 15
12 12 12
9 9 9
6 6 6
3 3 3
0 0 0
6. Treatment Evaluation:
EXPERIMENT
What Else Could Explain The Results?
ACTIVATION OF GENDER STEREOTYPES?
Stereotype Susceptibility Study on
female Asian-American college students
GENDER NEUTRAL ETHNICITY
Do you prefer co-ed or single- How satisfied are you with the How many generations of your
sex floors for flat-sharing? university telephone service? family have lived in America?
MATH TEST
Source: M. Shih, T. Pittinsky, & N. Ambady (1999), Psychological Science, 10 (1), 80-83.
7. Treatment Evaluation:
EXPERIMENT
What Else Could Explain The Results?
ACTIVATION OF GENDER STEREOTYPES?
Stereotype Susceptibility Study on
female Asian-American college students
Accuracy on Math Test
60
55
50
45
40
35
30
FEMALE NEUTRAL ASIAN
Source: M. Shih, T. Pittinsky, & N. Ambady (1999), Psychological Science, 10 (1), 80-83.
8. Treatment Evaluation:
EXPERIMENT
What Else Could Explain The Results?
! EFFECT OF EXPECTATIONS !
Closely related to the concept of
PLACEBO EFFECT
which is also expectancy-based
9. Treatment Evaluation:
EXPERIMENT
100
Intensity of Cough
80
Symptoms
60
Is this new cough medicine 40
effective in treating coughs? 20
0
COUGH SYRUP VITAMIN SYRUP
100
Intensity of Cough
80
Symptoms
60
40
20
0
COUGH SYRUP VITAMIN SYRUP
COUGH VITAMIN 100
SYRUP SYRUP
Intensity of Cough
80
Symptoms
60
40
20
0
COUGH SYRUP VITAMIN SYRUP
10. Treatment Evaluation:
EXPERIMENT
What Else Could Explain The Results?
! EFFECT OF EXPECTATIONS !
Closely related to the concept of
PLACEBO EFFECT
which is also expectancy-based
11. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
DEFINITION
Any therapy (or that component of any therapy) that is deliberately used
for its non-specific psychological or psychophysiological effect,
OR
that is used for its presumed effect on a patient, symptom, or illness,
BUT
which, unknown to patient and therapist,
is without specific activity for the condition being treated.”
(Shapiro, 1971, p. 440)
12. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
DEFINITION
Any therapy (or that component of any therapy) that is deliberately used
for its non-specific psychological or psychophysiological effect,
OR
that is used for its presumed effect on a patient, symptom, or illness,
BUT
which, unknown to patient and therapist,
is without specific activity for the condition being treated.”
(Shapiro, 1971, p. 440)
13. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
TREATMENT EFFECT IS
NON-SPECIFIC FOR COLDS!
SUGAR PILLS ANTIBIOTICS
(pure placebo) (impure placebo)
14. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
DEFINITION
Any therapy (or that component of any therapy) that is deliberately used
for its non-specific psychological or psychophysiological effect,
OR
that is used for its presumed effect on a patient, symptom, or illness,
BUT
which, unknown to patient and therapist,
is without specific activity for the condition being treated.”
(Shapiro, 1971, p. 440)
15. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
DEFINITION
Any therapy (or that component of any therapy) that is deliberately used
for its non-specific psychological or psychophysiological effect,
OR
that is used for its presumed effect on a patient, symptom, or illness,
BUT
which, unknown to patient and therapist,
is without specific activity for the condition being treated.”
(Shapiro, 1971, p. 440)
16. Treatment Evaluation
100
Intensity of Cough
80
Symptoms
60
Is this new cough medicine 40
effective in treating coughs? 20
0
COUGH SYRUP VITAMIN SYRUP
100
Intensity of Cough
80
Symptoms
60
40
20
0
COUGH SYRUP VITAMIN SYRUP
COUGH VITAMIN 100
SYRUP SYRUP
Intensity of Cough
80
Symptoms
60
40
20
0
COUGH SYRUP VITAMIN SYRUP
17. Treatment Evaluation
Does arthoscopic knee surgery actually
relieve knee pain from osteoarthritis?
All Patients: Anesthesia & Incisions
DEBRIDEMENT: LAVAGE:
Shaved off thin Flushed out knee
layers of damaged joint & disposed off
cartilage unhealthy tissue
PLACEBO:
No knee surgery
was performed
18. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
DEFINITION
Any therapy (or that component of any therapy) that is deliberately used
for its non-specific psychological or psychophysiological effect,
OR
that is used for its presumed effect on a patient, symptom, or illness,
BUT
which, unknown to patient and therapist,
is without specific activity for the condition being treated.”
(Shapiro, 1971, p. 440)
19. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
DEFINITION
Any therapy (or that component of any therapy) that is deliberately used
for its non-specific psychological or psychophysiological effect,
OR
that is used for its presumed effect on a patient, symptom, or illness,
BUT
which, unknown to patient and therapist,
is without specific activity for the condition being treated.”
(Shapiro, 1971, p. 440)
20. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
Very long history since the dawn of medicine
(Herbs, Preparations, Procedures, Interventions)
St John’s Wort Bleeding Royal Touch Animal parts
21. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
Very long history since the dawn of medicine
(Herbs, Preparations, Procedures, Interventions)
Used to treat a wide variety of disorders
(Physical Health & Mental Health)
22. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
PLACEBO EFFECT DEMONSTRATED IN
Depression
Anxiety
Phobias
Asthma
Sedation
Postoperative Pain
Ischemic Pain
Chronic Headaches
Physiological Arousal
Tobacco Addiction
Motor Performance
Source: M. Choliz & A. Capafons (2012), Theory Psychology, 22, 513.
23. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
PLACEBO EFFECT DEMONSTRATED IN
Depression
Anxiety Disorders
ADHD
Asthma, Cough
Hypertension
Pain
Nausea, Swelling
Parkinson’s Disease
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Tobacco Addiction
Language & Behavioral Problems
…
Source: M. Choliz & A. Capafons (2012), Theory Psychology, 22, 513.
24. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
Very long history since the dawn of medicine
(Herbs, Preparations, Procedures, Interventions)
Used to treat a wide variety of disorders
(Physical Health & Mental Health)
Are not always pharmacologically inert
(for example, sugar pills versus antibiotics)
26. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
A PLACEBO MAY BE PHARMACOLOGICALLY INERT
BUT
NOT PSYCHOLOGICALLY OR THERAPEUTICALLY INERT
Expectancies
Conditioning
Personality
Motivation
Persuasion
Goal Activation
Physician-Patient Interactions
Circumstances of Treatment
Source: M. Choliz & A. Capafons (2012), Theory Psychology, 22, 513.
27. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
A PLACEBO MAY BE PHARMACOLOGICALLY INERT
BUT
NOT PSYCHOLOGICALLY OR THERAPEUTICALLY INERT
Expectancies
Conditioning
Personality
Motivation
Persuasion
Goal Activation
Physician-Patient Interactions
Circumstances of Treatment
Source: M. Choliz & A. Capafons (2012), Theory Psychology, 22, 513.
28. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
A PLACEBO MAY BE PHARMACOLOGICALLY INERT
BUT
NOT PSYCHOLOGICALLY OR THERAPEUTICALLY INERT
Expectancies
Conditioning
Personality
Motivation
Persuasion
Goal Activation
Physician-Patient Interactions
Circumstances of Treatment
Source: M. Choliz & A. Capafons (2012), Theory Psychology, 22, 513.
31. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO: Expectancy vs. Conditioning
Source: Shiv, Carmon & Ariely (2005), Journal of Marketing Research, XLII, 383-393.
32. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
A PLACEBO MAY BE PHARMACOLOGICALLY INERT
BUT
NOT PSYCHOLOGICALLY OR THERAPEUTICALLY INERT
Expectancies
Conditioning
Personality
Motivation
Persuasion
Goal Activation
Physician-Patient Interactions
Circumstances of Treatment
Source: M. Choliz & A. Capafons (2012), Theory Psychology, 22, 513.
33. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
A PLACEBO MAY BE PHARMACOLOGICALLY INERT
BUT
NOT PSYCHOLOGICALLY OR THERAPEUTICALLY INERT
Expectancies
Conditioning
Personality
Motivation
Persuasion
Goal Activation
Physician-Patient Interactions
Circumstances of Treatment
Source: M. Choliz & A. Capafons (2012), Theory Psychology, 22, 513.
34. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO: Personality
When a placebo is administered during a
painful experience, altruistic, resilient, and
straightforward people show greater activity in
brain regions associated with reward
and are more likely to enjoy pain relief
Thrill-seekers or novelty seeking personality
types enjoy a stronger placebo response than
people with quiet or reserved personalities
Sources: M. Pecina et al. (2012) Neuropsychopharmacology; Schweinhardt et al. (2009) Journal of Neuroscience
35. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
A PLACEBO MAY BE PHARMACOLOGICALLY INERT
BUT
NOT PSYCHOLOGICALLY OR THERAPEUTICALLY INERT
Expectancies
Conditioning
Personality
Motivation
Persuasion
Goal Activation
Physician-Patient Interactions
Circumstances of Treatment
Source: M. Choliz & A. Capafons (2012), Theory Psychology, 22, 513.
36. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
A PLACEBO MAY BE PHARMACOLOGICALLY INERT
BUT
NOT PSYCHOLOGICALLY OR THERAPEUTICALLY INERT
Expectancies
Conditioning
Personality
Motivation
Persuasion
Goal Activation
Physician-Patient Interactions
Circumstances of Treatment
Source: M. Choliz & A. Capafons (2012), Theory Psychology, 22, 513.
37. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
Very long history since the dawn of medicine
(Herbs, Preparations, Procedures, Interventions)
Used to treat a wide variety of disorders
(Physical Health & Mental Health)
Are not always pharmacologically inert
(for example, sugar pills versus antibiotics)
The placebo is non-specific in that it with without
specific activity for the condition being treated
38. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
DEPRESSION
75% of the effectiveness of
anti-depressant medication
is due to the placebo &
other non-specific effects
Difference between drug
and placebo not clinically
significant except in cases
of very extreme depression
Source: Kirsch I, Deacon BJ, Huedo-Medina TB, Scoboria A, Moore TJ, Johnson BT (2008) PLoS Medicine, 5(2):e45
39. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
Very long history since the dawn of medicine
(Herbs, Preparations, Procedures, Interventions)
Used to treat a wide variety of disorders
(Physical Health & Mental Health)
Are not always pharmacologically inert
(for example, sugar pills versus antibiotics)
The placebo is non-specific in that it with without
specific activity for the condition being treated
Can occur even when a person is aware that they
are taking a placebo
40. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
Enrollment Flowchart Outcomes at the 21-Day Endpoint by Treatment Group
Source: Kaptchuk TJ, Friedlander E, Kelley JM, Sanchez MN, et al. (2010) PLoS ONE 5(12): e15591.
41. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
Feedback
Source: Kaptchuk TJ, Friedlander E, Kelley JM, Sanchez MN, et al. (2010) PLoS ONE 5(12): e15591.
42. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO – GENERAL FEATURES
Very long history since the dawn of medicine
(Herbs, Preparations, Procedures, Interventions)
Used to treat a wide variety of disorders
(Physical Health & Mental Health)
Are not always pharmacologically inert
(for example, sugar pills versus antibiotics)
The placebo is non-specific in that it with without
specific activity for the condition being treated
Can occur even when a person is aware that they
are taking a placebo
43. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
“The problem with the placebo effect is
that it is regarded by most people as a
nuisance or fake.
But it isn't.
It is a practical and positive effect that
acts by catalyzing the self-healing
mechanisms within a patient.”
Richard Tonkin, M.D.
(Research Council for
Complementary Medicine)
44. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
PAIN
Inject pain-inducing saline Provide pain ratings every
solution into jaw 15 seconds (0-100)
every four minutes
In those who reported less
discomfort after the
Pain relieving serum placebo, body produced
(placebo) endogenous painkilling
endorphins
People who expected to get relief
actually produced it!
Source: Zubieta JK, Bueller JA, Jackson LR, Scott DJ, Xu Y, Koeppe RA, Nichols TE, Stohler CS (2005). J Neuroscience 25(34):7754-62
45. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
"Any therapeutic meeting between a conscious
patient and a doctor has the potential of
initiating a placebo effect.“
(Asbjorn Hrobartsson)
The word “placebo” comes from the Latin,
meaning "I will please"
By the 19th century, it was a medicine given
"more to please than to benefit the patient"
(A.K. Shapiro)
46. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
“He cures most successfully in whom the
people have the most confidence“
(Galen, AD 129 – AD c. 216)
Physicians should provide patients with hope
and comfort and “counteract the depressing
influence of maladies”
(Thomas Percival, 1803)
47. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
A PLACEBO MAY BE PHARMACOLOGICALLY INERT
BUT
NOT PSYCHOLOGICALLY OR THERAPEUTICALLY INERT
Expectancies
Conditioning
Personality
Motivation
Persuasion
Goal Activation
Physician-Patient Interactions
Circumstances of Treatment
Source: M. Choliz & A. Capafons (2012), Theory Psychology, 22, 513.
48. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
A PLACEBO MAY BE PHARMACOLOGICALLY INERT
BUT
NOT PSYCHOLOGICALLY OR THERAPEUTICALLY INERT
Expectancies
Conditioning
Personality
Motivation
Persuasion
Goal Activation
Physician-Patient Interactions
Circumstances of Treatment
Source: M. Choliz & A. Capafons (2012), Theory Psychology, 22, 513.
49. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
“The life of a sick person can be shortened not only by the acts, but also the
words or the manner of a physician. It is therefore, a sacred duty to guard
himself carefully in this respect, and to avoid all things which have a tendency
to discourage the patient and depress his spirits.”
(AMA – American Medical Association’s first Code of Ethics in 1847)
“ … deal honestly with patients”
(AMA – American Medical Association’s Code of Ethics in 1980)
50. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO
INFORMED CONSENT DOCTRINE
Focus on patient autonomy.
Every person has a right to determine what is done to his own body.
Before providing medical treatment, a physician must explain to the patient the nature
and purpose of a proposed treatment, the probable risks and benefits, the probability of
success, the availability of reasonable alternative courses of action, and, in many cases,
the risk of refusing treatment.
51. Treatment Evaluation
PLACEBO: INFLUENCES
A PLACEBO MAY BE PHARMACOLOGICALLY INERT
BUT
NOT PSYCHOLOGICALLY OR THERAPEUTICALLY INERT
Expectancies
Conditioning
Personality
Motivation
Persuasion
Goal Activation
Physician-Patient Interactions
Circumstances of Treatment
Source: M. Choliz & A. Capafons (2012), Theory Psychology, 22, 513.
53. Treatment Evaluation
NOCEBO
Negative consequences
(harmful, unpleasant, or undesirable)
resulting from the administration of a placebo.
Illustrates the role of patient expectations in
perceived side effects
Unwanted side effects (antipsychotic medication,
heart disease, even death)
55. EXPERIMENT
A means to identify cause-and-effect
relationships between events and/or
behaviors
Follow a set of rules and guidelines that
reduce the possibility of errors, biases &
chance occurrences
Advantages:
(1) Less error/bias prone than case
studies, surveys or observational methods
(2) Most reliable method for identifying
cause-and effect relationships
Disadvantages:
(1) Problems in Generalization: Results
from one situation may not apply to
another situation
56. EXPERIMENT:
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Rule 1: Ask Rule 3: Choose Rule 6: Measure
State the question & Select participants to Measure how different
formulate a hypothesis test the hypothesis treatments (IV) affect
(RANDOM SELECTION) behavior (DV) => DATA
Rule 2: Identify
how best to test this Rule 4: Assign
hypothesis Participants to
Independent variable different groups Rule 7: Analyze
(IV): What a researcher (EXPERIMENTAL group) Statistical analyses are
manipulates or controls (CONTROL group) carried out to determine
(TREATMENT) whether the observed
Dependant variable Rule 5: Manipulate differences in the
(DV): Participants’ Administer the behaviors (DV) are due to
measured behavior different treatments to the treatment effect (IV)
(TREATMENT EFFECT) the different groups or due to chance/error
57. EXPERIMENT:
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Rule 1: Ask
State the question &
formulate a hypothesis
(expectation)
QUESTION:
Does Coffee Intake Improve your Ability
to Concentrate on a Difficult Math
Problem?
HYPOTHESIS:
Coffee Intake Improves the Ability to
Concentrate on a Difficult Problem!
(because Caffeine is a stimulant)
58. EXPERIMENT:
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Rule 2: Identify
how best to test this
hypothesis
Independent variable
(IV): What a researcher
manipulates or controls
(TREATMENT)
TREATMENT or INDEPENDENT VARIABLE (IV):
1. Coffee (with caffeine) EXPERIMENTAL
2. Coffee (caffeine-Free) PLACEBO-CONTROL
3. Water NONPLACEBO-CONTROL
59. EXPERIMENT:
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Rule 2: Identify
how best to test this
hypothesis
Independent variable
(IV): What a researcher
manipulates or controls
(TREATMENT)
Dependant variable
(DV): Participants’
measured behavior
(TREATMENT EFFECT)
TREATMENT EFFECT or DEPENDENT VARIABLE (DV):
1. Time Taken to complete the Task
WHY? Because if you can concentrate better, you should be
able to focus on the task better and work faster
60. EXPERIMENT:
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Rule 3: Choose
Select participants to
test the hypothesis
(RANDOM SELECTION)
Sample characteristics:
1. Total number of participants = 1800
2. Equal number of male & female participants
3. Age = Young adults (18-25 years)
61. EXPERIMENT:
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Rule 4: Assign
Participants to
different groups
(EXPERIMENTAL group)
(CONTROL group)
Coffee Coffee Water
(with caffeine) (without caffeine) (without caffeine)
EXPERIMENTAL PLACEBO-CONTROL NON- PLACEBO-CONTROL
62. EXPERIMENT:
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Rule 4: Assign
Participants to
different groups
(EXPERIMENTAL group)
(CONTROL group)
RANDOM ASSIGNMENT
Coffee Coffee Water
(with caffeine) (without caffeine) (without caffeine)
EXPERIMENTAL PLACEBO-CONTROL NON- PLACEBO-CONTROL
300 300 300 300 300 300
63. EXPERIMENT:
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Rule 5: Manipulate
Administer the
different treatments to
the different groups
Double - Blind
procedure
Coffee Coffee Water
(with caffeine) (without caffeine) (without caffeine)
EXPERIMENTAL PLACEBO-CONTROL NON- PLACEBO-CONTROL
300 300 300 300 300 300
64. EXPERIMENT:
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Rule 6: Measure
Measure how different
treatments (IV) affect
behavior (DV) => DATA
Coffee Coffee Water
(with caffeine) (without caffeine) (without caffeine)
EXPERIMENTAL PLACEBO-CONTROL NON- PLACEBO-CONTROL
300 300 300 300 300 300
65. EXPERIMENT:
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
RESULT: Rule 7: Analyze HYPOTHESIS:
Statistical analyses are Coffee Intake Improves the
Experimental group take carried out to determine Ability to Concentrate on a
LESS time to solve Math whether the observed Difficult Problem!
problem than differences in the (As Caffeine is a stimulant)
Placebo control group & behaviors (DV) are due to
Non-Placebo control group the treatment effect (IV)
or due to chance/error
Coffee Coffee Water
(with caffeine) (without caffeine) (without caffeine)
EXPERIMENTAL PLACEBO-CONTROL NON- PLACEBO-CONTROL
10 10 10
8 8 8
6 6 6
4 4 4
2 2 2
0 0 0
66. EXPERIMENT:
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
RESULT: Rule 7: Analyze HYPOTHESIS:
Statistical analyses are Coffee Intake Improves the
Experimental group take carried out to determine Ability to Concentrate on a
SAME time to solve Math whether the observed Difficult Problem!
problem as differences in the (As Caffeine is a stimulant)
Placebo-control group behaviors (DV) are due to
the treatment effect (IV)
or due to chance/error
Coffee Coffee Water
(with caffeine) (without caffeine) (without caffeine)
EXPERIMENTAL PLACEBO-CONTROL NON- PLACEBO-CONTROL
10 10 10
8 8 8
6 6 6
4 4 4
2 2 2
0 0 0
67. EXPERIMENT:
SCIENTIFIC METHOD
Rule 1: Ask Rule 3: Choose Rule 6: Measure
State the question & Select participants to Measure how different
formulate a hypothesis test the hypothesis treatments (IV) affect
(RANDOM SELECTION) behavior (DV) => DATA
Rule 2: Identify
how best to test this Rule 4: Assign
hypothesis Participants to
Independent variable different groups Rule 7: Analyze
(IV): What a researcher (EXPERIMENTAL group) Statistical analyses are
manipulates or controls (CONTROL group) carried out to determine
(TREATMENT) whether the observed
Dependant variable Rule 5: Manipulate differences in the
(DV): Participants’ Administer the behaviors (DV) are due to
measured behavior different treatments to the treatment effect (IV)
(TREATMENT EFFECT) the different groups or due to chance/error
68. Treatment Evaluation: RCT
(Randomized Controlled Trial)
The key distinguishing feature of the typical RCT is
that study subjects, after assessment of eligibility
and recruitment, but before the intervention to be
studied begins, are randomly allocated to receive
one or other of the alternative treatments under
study. Random allocation in real trials is complex,
but conceptually, the process is like tossing a coin.
After randomization, the two (or more) groups of
subjects are followed in exactly the same way, and
the only differences between the care they receive,
for example, in terms of procedures, tests,
outpatient visits, follow-up calls etc. should be those
intrinsic to the treatments being compared. The
most important advantage of proper randomization
is that it minimizes allocation bias, balancing both
known and unknown prognostic factors, in the
assignment of treatments.
Source: Moher D, Hopewell S, Schulz KF, Montori V, Gøtzsche PC, Devereaux PJ, Elbourne D, Egger M, Altman DG (2010). "CONSORT 2010
explanation and elaboration: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials". Br Med J 340: c869.