Minimisation: the platinum standard for trials?
The treatment allocation is then made, not purely by chance, but by determining in which group inclusion of the patient would minimise any differences in these factors. [...]if group A has a higher average age and a disproportionate number of smokers, other things being equal, the next elderly smoke...
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Published in | BMJ Vol. 317; no. 7155; pp. 362 - 363 |
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Main Authors | , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
London
British Medical Journal Publishing Group
08.08.1998
BMJ Publishing Group LTD |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | The treatment allocation is then made, not purely by chance, but by determining in which group inclusion of the patient would minimise any differences in these factors. [...]if group A has a higher average age and a disproportionate number of smokers, other things being equal, the next elderly smoker is likely to be allocated to group B. The allocation may rely on minimisation alone, or still involve chance but "with the dice loaded" in favour of the allocation which minimises the differences. |
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ISSN: | 0959-8138 1468-5833 |
DOI: | 10.1136/bmj.317.7155.362 |