Interpreting clinical trials for analgesia

The interpretation of clinical trial results requires an understanding of trial design. This paper briefly translates some of the more common terms, explains their use and misuse, and points out frequently encountered pitfalls in clinical analgesia trials. The purpose, clinical relevance, and ethical conduct of the trial are discussed generally as they relate to the interpretation of the results. Specific pain measurement, pain reduction, and functional outcome measures are used to illustrate how trial design affects the translation of trial results into clinical practice.