What are Randomised Trials?

Randomised trials are research studies used to test new medical treatments by randomly dividing participants into two or more groups. One group receives the treatment being tested, while the other group gets a standard treatment or a placebo. This random assignment ensures the groups are similar, preventing bias and making the results more reliable. 

Often, neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in which group, which helps maintain objectivity. The outcomes are measured and compared to see if the new treatment works better than the existing one. These trials follow strict ethical guidelines to protect participants and provide trustworthy results about the effectiveness and safety of new treatments.

LACI-3 is a randomised trial. If you take part, you will be randomly selected into one of two groups: 1) the “intervention” group, where you will take some medication, or 2) the “control” group where you will experience the normal standard of NHS care. 

Further Resources on Clinical Trials:

www.testingtreatments.org: a patient-friendly guide to key concepts for critical thinking about treatment claims. Plus an e-book to download or listen to.

Clinical trials: what they are and what they’re not : UK Clinical Research Collaboration  pamphlet:

The UK Clinical Trials Gateway can help you make informed choices about clinical trials.:

healthtalk.org: 42 videos of people talking about their experiences of taking part in a clinical trial.