Table 2 Advantages and disadvantages of pragmatic RCTs over traditional RCTs
Definition | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
A pragmatic clinical trial is a study designed to evaluate an intervention’s effectiveness in real-world conditions, reflecting the specific patient population and usual clinical practice. A pragmatic clinical trial aims to provide evidence that can be directly applied to clinical decision-making | Reflects real-world conditions Results are directly applicable to clinical decision-making Involves a diverse patient population May be more cost-effective May provide information on unexpected benefits or harms of interventions May reduce the potential for selection bias More generalizable to broader populations | May require larger sample sizes May require more extended follow-up periods May have limited ability to evaluate complex interventions May have limitations in outcome measurement and data collection |