randomized controlled trial

A study comparing at least two interventions, in which the eligible participants are allocated randomly to the intervention group, or groups, and the control group.

Acronym: RCT

Note 1: The control may be a standard practice, a placebo, other active intervention, or no intervention.

Note 2: Participants may be individuals or groups (eg unit of randomization in a cluster randomized controlled trial).

Alternate spelling: randomised controlled trial