Example of a RCT

The following is an example of a randomised control trial.

Mothers about to give birth too early were randomised to either a short inexpensive course of corticosteroids or placebo and the outcome that they were interested in was the number of babies dying from complications of immaturity.

This is an interesting example as many RCTs were undertaken over a period of 10 years comparing a short inexpensive course of corticosteroids or placebo in mothers about to give birth too early. These studies all gave different results some said that treatment was better than placebo, some said there was no difference between treatment and placebo for the outcome of interest.

It was not until a systematic review was undertaken a decade later that it indicated strongly that corticosteroids reduce the risk of babies dying from the complications of immaturity.