An Introduction to Randomised Controlled Trials

Welcome to your Course!

Randomised controlled trials have a huge impact on society by providing evidence of the effectiveness of healthcare, social care, and public health interventions. On this three-week course from the University of Birmingham, you will be guided through the lifecycle of a trial from conception to publication.

You’ll begin this course by looking at the different phases of trials and the steps required to conceptualise, design, and plan a successful trial. Then, you’ll examine the specialist roles involved in every step of the trial process and learn the importance of these individual inputs in the conduct of a successful trial.

This course will take you through the management processes for trial data and the end of trial procedures that need to be followed. You’ll also look at safety reporting and how randomised control trials are published.

This course has been built by a team of expert research trial staff from the Birmingham Centre for Clinical Trials within Birmingham University. This team will guide you through the entire process for conducting randomised controlled trials and how to report results that can then be used to inform guidelines.

Important: To access the course content, click the activities button located near the bottom of this page. This will direct you to a list of relevant materials that you can work through at your own pace.