The best evidence: A randomised controlled trial to assess the efficacy of a nutraceutical to treat headshaking

摘要

The equine veterinary profession recognises the importance of evidence-based medicine in clinical decision making (Rossdale et al. 2003; Marr and Newton 2006). Understanding the types of study, and issues associated with their design, is a prerequisite to proper study design and is also essential for evaluation of the strength of evidence provided by the study. Of all the study types the 'randomised controlled trial (RCT)' provides the strongest evidence and the RCT is regarded as the unchallenged source of the highest standard of evidence to guide clinical decision making.