What are the fundamental difference between randomised studies and observational studies ?
New discoveries come from shrewed observations made in bedside or labside while , randomised studies evaluate these discoveries for it’s effectiveness or futileness .
Let us realise , RCTs primarily never contribute to generation of original concepts or discoveries ! .It is a statistical tool to assess an observation .
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PLoS Medicine: Observational Research, Randomised Trials, and Two Views of Medical Science
The fact that observational studies are done with open eyes & mind , it is obvious it demands intense conceptualization and thinking .
Blinded studies are mechanical studies . It is pure statistical research . It requires no thinking , medical mind , in fact one can do it with eyes closed as it is a strict protocol driven , even a non medical men can do a medical research , while it needs a alert mind to do a observational study .
Observational studies , especialy when done retrospectively has zero bias as the case selection and the potential intervention are completed even before the research question is raised. In fact many of the greatest medical breakthrough comes from retrospective analysis. Of course this has to be proved prospectively preferably in a randomised fashion.
So , we the medical professionals , shall do great observational research with open eyes and mind and let the the statisiticins do the outcome analysis blind folded .
If the core medical professionals are bothered more about randomised blinded studies ,which is meant only for evaluation purposes , the future of intellectual medical research is going to be in jeopardy!
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