February, 2003
© 2000, 2001, 2003 Scott S. Emerson, M.D., Ph.D.
Clinical
testing of a new treatment or preventive agent is analogous to using
laboratory or clinical tests to diagnose a disease
Goal is to
find a procedure that identifies truly beneficial interventions
Not
surprisingly, the issues that arise when screening for disease apply to
clinical trials
·Predictive
value of a positive test is best when prevalence is high
·Use screening
trials to increase prevalence of beneficial treatments