Randomized Clinical Trials and Observational Studies: Is There a Battle?

Editorial

..... While we will continue to obtain high-quality data from RCTs that will determine and guide our treatments, we believe that there is—and there will continue to be—a place for population-based studies. In the era of comparative effectiveness, there should be no battle between RCTs and observational studies; both designs can provide valid and important knowledge. We must aim to produce high-quality research regardless of the design used, acknowledging the strengths and limitations of the generated data. As researchers, we must remember that in addition to moving our field forward, the generated evidence must provide clinicians with answers that will help in their decision-making process, leading to the delivery of evidence-based compassionate care.