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Comparative effectiveness research: does one size fit all?
Author(s) -
Kunz Lauren M.,
Yeh Robert W.,
Normand SharonLise T.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
statistics in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.996
H-Index - 183
eISSN - 1097-0258
pISSN - 0277-6715
DOI - 10.1002/sim.5482
Subject(s) - observational study , argument (complex analysis) , comparative effectiveness research , variety (cybernetics) , randomization , research design , randomized controlled trial , sample size determination , computer science , clinical study design , clinical trial , econometrics , medicine , statistics , alternative medicine , mathematics , artificial intelligence , surgery , pathology
In this commentary, we argue that although randomization has many benefits, not all questions we seek to answer fit into a randomized setting. Our argument utilizes the clinical setting of carotid atherosclerosis management where specific clinical questions are answered by using a variety of comparative effectiveness designs. Observational studies should not be ruled out when designing studies to address questions of comparative effectiveness. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.