Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Interpreting a Clinical Trial
- Author(s)
- Gurgenci, T; O'Leary, C; Hui, D; Yennu, S; Bruera, E; Davis, M; Agar, MR; Zimmermann, C; Philip, J; Mercadante, S; Hardy, J; Rosa, WE; Good, P;
- Journal Title
- Journal of Palliative Medicine
- Publication Type
- Online publication before print
- Abstract
- Evidence-based practice is foundational to high-quality palliative care delivery. However, the clinical trials that compose the evidence base are often methodologically imperfect. Applying their conclusions without critical application to the clinical practice context can harm patients. The tips provided can help clinicians infer judiciously from clinical trial results and avoid credulously accepting findings without critique. We suggest that statistical and mathematical expertise is unnecessary, but rather a keen curiosity about investigators' rationale for certain design choices and how these choices can affect results is key. For a more comprehensive understanding of clinical trials, this article can be used with the authors' corresponding ten tips article that focuses on designing a clinical trial.
- Keywords
- clinical trials; data interpretation; evidence-based medicine; palliative care; quality of data; randomized control trials
- Department(s)
- Palliative Care
- Publisher's Version
- https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2024.0258
- Terms of Use/Rights Notice
- Refer to copyright notice on published article.
Creation Date: 2024-08-29 04:13:44
Last Modified: 2024-08-29 04:22:13