Open AccessStudy design in evidence-based surgery: What is the role of case-control studies?
Author(s) -
Amy M. Cao,
Michael R. Cox,
Guy D. Eslick
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
world journal of methodology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2222-0682
DOI - 10.5662/wjm.v6.i1.101
Subject(s) - randomized controlled trial , gold standard (test) , medicine , research design , clinical study design , surgery , general surgery , clinical trial , social science , sociology
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard in terms of study design, however, in the surgical setting conducting RCTs can often be unethical or logistically impossible. Case-control studies should become the major study design used in surgical research when RCTs are unable to be conducted and definitely replacing case series which offer little insight into surgical outcomes and disease processes.