About Fair Tests

Fair tests of treatments in health care

Why fair tests are needed

Why comparisons are essential

Why comparisons must address genuine uncertainties

Avoiding biased comparisons

Differences between the people compared

Differences in the way treatment outcomes are assessed

Interpreting unbiased comparisons

Differences between intended treatments and treatments actually received

Taking account of the play of chance

Identifying unanticipated effects of treatments

Systematic reviews of all the relevant evidence

Dealing with biased reporting of the available evidence

Avoiding biased selection from the available evidence

Reducing the play of chance using meta-analysis

Up-to-date, systematic reviews of all relevant, reliable evidence

Select authored material:

• Brief histories
• Personal reflections
• Other commentaries
• Biographies
• Doctoral theses

Browse all records:

• Chronologically
• Author's name
• Author’s origin

Select records illustrating:

• Principles of testing
  • Uncertainty
  • Natural history
  • Placebo effects
  • Benefit: harm
• Need for comparison
• Dramatic effects
• Group data
• Control of allocation bias
  • Crossover tests
  • Cluster allocation
  • Factorial design
• Adherence to Treatment
  • 'Intention-to-treat' analysis
• Control of observer bias
• Unanticipated effects/Adverse effects
• Play of chance
• Analysis bias
• Reporting bias
• Interpretation bias
• Sponsor bias
• Reporting standards
• Systematic review
  • Meta-analysis

• Epidemiology