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explanatory trial

— A study designed to assess the effects of a treatment given in ideal circumstances


Synonyms:

efficacy* trial

Full explanation:

Studies to assess the effects of treatments can be designed to address one of two broad questions:

"Can this treatment work, given ideal circumstances?" or "Does this treatment work, in the messy circumstances of the real world?"

Those studies that address the first of these questions are referred to as ‘explanatory’, or ‘efficacy’ trials; those that address the second question are referred to as ‘pragmatic’, or’ effectiveness’ trials

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