TY - JOUR
T1 - Limitations of the Randomized Controlled Trial in Evaluating Population-Based Health Interventions
AU - Sanson-Fisher, Robert William
AU - Bonevski, Billie
AU - Green, Lawrence W.
AU - D'Este, Cate
PY - 2007/8
Y1 - 2007/8
N2 - Abstract: Population- and systems-based interventions need evaluation, but the randomized controlled trial (RCT) research design has significant limitations when applied to their complexity. After some years of being largely dismissed in the ranking of evidence in medicine, alternatives to the RCT have been debated recently in public health and related population and social service fields to identify the trade-offs in their use when randomization is impractical or unethical. This review summarizes recent debates and considers the pragmatic and economic issues associated with evaluating whole-population interventions while maintaining scientific validity and credibility.
AB - Abstract: Population- and systems-based interventions need evaluation, but the randomized controlled trial (RCT) research design has significant limitations when applied to their complexity. After some years of being largely dismissed in the ranking of evidence in medicine, alternatives to the RCT have been debated recently in public health and related population and social service fields to identify the trade-offs in their use when randomization is impractical or unethical. This review summarizes recent debates and considers the pragmatic and economic issues associated with evaluating whole-population interventions while maintaining scientific validity and credibility.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34547172234&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.amepre.2007.04.007
DO - 10.1016/j.amepre.2007.04.007
M3 - Review article
C2 - 17673104
AN - SCOPUS:34547172234
SN - 0749-3797
VL - 33
SP - 155
EP - 161
JO - American Journal of Preventive Medicine
JF - American Journal of Preventive Medicine
IS - 2
ER -