RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL COURSE 2017: A Guide to Design, Conduct, Analysis, Interpretation and Reporting

This course provides a thorough grounding in the principles and practice of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for the evaluation of healthcare interventions. It will include talks and practicals to give examples and guidance on the methodology of trials using a problem-based learning approach.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

• Clarify the fundamental principles and practice of RCTs
• Demonstrate the optimal methodology to use in RCTs based on considerable practical experience and using extensive examples from the literature
• Examine the critical issues involved in planning, conducting and completing a successful trial
• Provide a basic understanding of statistical input into RCTs, including analyses frequently used
• Facilitate critical appraisal of RCTs

COURSE TUTORS

• Prof Doug Altman, Professor of Statistics in Medicine, Centre for Statistics in Medicine, University of Oxford
• Prof David Beard, Professor of Musculoskeletal Sciences, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford
• Prof Mike Clarke, Director, MRC All-Ireland Trials Methodology Research Hub, Queen’s University Belfast
• Dr Jonathan Cook, University Lecturer, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences and Centre for Statistics in Medicine, University of Oxford.
• Susan Dutton, Lead Statistician, Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit and Centre for Statistics in Medicine, University of Oxford
• Dr Vicki Barber, Hub Manager, Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Oxford
• Prof Ed Juszczak, Director, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit Clinical Trials Unit, University of Oxford.