The need for randomization in animal trials: an overview of systematic reviews.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Randomization, allocation concealment, and blind outcome assessment have been shown to reduce bias in human studies. Authors from the Collaborative Approach to Meta Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies (CAMARADES) collaboration recently found that these features protect against bias in animal stroke studies. We extended the scope the work from CAMARADES to include investigations of treatments for any condition.

Methods

We conducted an overview of systematic reviews. We searched Medline and Embase for systematic reviews of animal studies testing any intervention (against any control) and we included any disease area and outcome. We included reviews comparing randomized versus not randomized (but otherwise controlled), conceale

SUBMITTER: Hirst JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4048216 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature