Study points to need for more training in clinical trial design in China
July 2, 2009 – A survey of more than 3,000 randomized clinical trials published in Chinese journals suggests that less than 10 per cent are actually randomized according to accepted guidelines. The survey, published in BioMed Central’s open access journal, Trials, was led by Dr. David Moher of Ottawa, Canada and Dr. Taixiang Wu of Sichuan, China.
“When done properly, randomization ensures that each participant who enrolls in a clinical trial has an equal chance of being allocated to each of the treatment groups,” said Dr. Moher, Senior Scientist at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI) and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. “Improper randomization can result in biased results which can lead to the adoption of inappropriate medical practices. Our finding of poor randomization in many Chinese trials is quite serious. It could affect health care not only in China, but also around the world, because the results of these trials are often included in international medical reviews.”
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