Cluster Randomized Controlled Trials

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What is the primary concern in selecting clusters in a cluster randomised trial design?

Optimizing study arm imbalance
Preventing contamination between intervention and control groups (correct)
Minimalizing intra-cluster correlation
Ensuring equal cluster sizes

What is the primary role of the intra-cluster correlation (ICC) in cluster randomised trial design?

Analyzing and reporting study outcomes
Calculating sample size and interpreting results (correct)
Defining the natural and generalisable cluster
Implementing matching and stratification strategies

What is the primary advantage of using design strategies like matching and stratification in cluster randomised trial design?

Enhancing power and precision
Reducing intra-cluster correlation
Lowering logistical costs
Improving study arm balance (correct)

Which guideline is specifically designed for analysing and reporting cluster randomised controlled trials?

CONSORT extension (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary disadvantage of cluster randomised trial design compared to individually randomised trials?

Lower power and precision (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of participants within each cluster in a cluster randomised trial design?

Higher correlation with respect to the primary outcome measure within clusters (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the parallel group design in clinical trials?

Participants remain in their assigned group during the study period (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary outcome in a clinical trial?

The single main outcome or a combined outcome (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is an advantage of the parallel group design in clinical trials?

It eliminates the risk of carry-over effects (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of the parallel group design in clinical trials?

The analysis is more complicated compared to other designs (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a surrogate outcome in a clinical trial?

To act as a proxy for hard clinical outcomes (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the advantage of using a composite outcome in a clinical trial?

It combines several measurable outcomes into a single result (D) Signup and view all the answers

In what type of study is the parallel group design commonly used?

Clinical trial (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the informed consent process in research?

To explain the research and potential risks and benefits to participants (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of the parallel group design in terms of ethical considerations?

Participants are not subjected to multiple treatments (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of public involvement in research?

It improves the quality of the research (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the statistical analysis in parallel group trials?

It involves comparing the outcome measures between the treatment groups (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of co-production in research?

To define beneficial roles within research teams (C) Signup and view all the answers