Discussion Forum > ForumStudClinical? Trials and Study Design

Why is masking/blinding so important?

JuliaStGeorge? - 24 Jun 2009 - 14:07

According to the definition on the CONSORT Statement web site, blinding is intended to prevent bias on the part of study personnel.

"The practice of keeping the trial participants, care providers, those collecting data, and sometimes even those analyzing data unaware of which intervention is being administered to which participant.....

"The most common application is 'double-blinding,' in which participants, caregivers and those assessing outcome are blinded to intervention assignment.

"The term 'masking' may be used instead of blinding."

A good reference for this topic can also be found in Lancet:

Schulz KF, Grimes DA, "Blinding in randomised trials: hiding who got what," Lancet 2002; 359: 696-700.

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