The major purpose of random assignment in a clinical trial is to:a. Help ensure that study subjects are representative of the general populationb. Facilitate double blinding (masking)c. Facilitate the measurement of outcome variablesd. Ensure that the study groups have comparable baseline characteristicse. Reduce selection bias in the allocation of treatment
E – Reduce selection bias in the allocation of treatment
The correct answer is d. Ensure that the study groups have comparable baseline characteristics.
Random assignment is a process in which participants in a clinical trial are assigned to different groups (treatment or control) randomly. This approach helps ensure that the groups are comparable at the beginning of the study, and any differences observed later can be attributed to the intervention rather than to pre-existing differences between the groups.
Random assignment helps reduce selection bias because it ensures that participants are allocated to different groups by chance alone, and not by the preference or bias of the investigator. This approach also helps increase the validity and reliability of the study results because it minimizes the potential for confounding variables to influence the outcomes.
While facilitating double-blinding is an important aspect of clinical trials, it is not the major purpose of random assignment. The other options listed (a, b, c) are also not the major purpose of random assignment.
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