Research often compares a standard health treatment to something different or new to see what works best. This can be done for medications, medical devices, and even for activities such as diet and exercise. These studies are often set up with experimental groups and control groups.
This video explains the differences between these two groups and how study participants end up in one group or the other through randomization.
This video is brought to you by the Clinical and Translational Research Institute (CTRI) at the University of California, San Diego. The CTRI is an NIH (NCATS) funded CTSA with the mission of helping to translate scientific discoveries into improved health.