This despite the fact that chiropractic methods don't fit as neatly into the RCT mold. However, observational studies published in reputable medical journals often give similar results to randomized controlled trials, according to an analysis by University of Iowa researchers. The investigations have implications for how care is evaluated for effectiveness. In randomized controlled trials, clinicians randomly assign patients to receive one of two or more treatments and subsequently analyze the results. In observational studies, patients are cared for as usual by their doctor, who decides the course of care.
Researchers become involved post-care in analyzing the data.
Our findings suggest that the results from observational studies should not necessarily be dismissed. We should take a closer look at how to integrate observational studies with other types of research. Luckily they did not assume it was and hopefully chiropractic researchers will become more open to the spectrum of research methods that are available to us. Regards, Dr. Matthew McCoy Editor - Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. All rights reserved as provided by U.S. copyright law.