Description:Clinical trials form the backbone of evidence-based medicine, and appreciating clinical trial methods allows readers to critique, design and report clinical trials. This book is a friendly 'jargon buster' which aims to demystify the subject. It is divided into five sections: fundamentals of trial design, alternative trial designs, basics of statistical analysis, special trial issues in data analysis, and reporting of trials.Using simple language, the book explains - with illustrations of numerous trial examples - the conceptual and methodological issues that occur at all stages of clinical trial covering trial design, conduct, analysis and reporting. The book is an educational and approachable reference in a difficult area of medicine where clinicians often feel uncertain and this material helps them review, appraise and publish trials and clinical evidence.The audience for the book includes physicians, statisticians, pharmacists, medical students, clinical researchers, medical writers, data managers, study co-ordinators, pharmaceutical sales representatives, and financial (medical) analysts.