There is a trend here in Asia that graduate and post graduate students and even M.Phill students are discouraged to go for RCT.
The alternate options given are comparative study, cross sectional study, interventional study.
Why do research supervisors usually present RCT as something 'impossible' with many difficulties attached?
Is there really a statistical test to decide the sample size or can the researcher write sample size according to will?
Hira,
It's not impossible to conduct an RCT - but they are often discouraged for post-grad research projects. They are usually more complex to set up, more demanding in terms of rigour and control and, the main problem is, that they are usually best conducted by experienced teams - rather than as a 'solo' research project.
Yes - for any quantitative study - you must justify your sample size. 100 would be considered small if the 'total' population, to be generalised against, was much larger. If the total population is quite small - then 100 would be fine - but you may want to consider 'power statistics' to compensate.
Thank you Dean for putting it in a simple understandable way.
In my previous research on osteoarthritis the problem i faces was when i started to collect sample, although being a common disorder i couldn't find enough patients according to my inclusion criteria and unfortunately the sample size reduced.
is it necessary that the sample size in research corresponds to the sample size suggested in synopsis?
Hi Hira,
No problem - I'm wondering if your inclusion criteria isn't too strict. What is it?
Dean
i compared effects of kineso taping on knee so i took classic OA of knee with no other co morbid factor.
Inclusion criteria
Both genders
Age between 30 years to 65 years
Patients with grade 1 and grade 2, knee osteoarthritis diagnosed on X-ray
Patients with unilateral and/or bilateral knee involvement
Exclusion criteria
Patients with knee osteoarthritis who are strong candidates for joint surgery.
Patients with any intraarticular soft tissue pathology (meniscal or ligament tear).
Patients with pain in back or hip secondary to knee osteoarthritis.
Patients with allergy to tape.
Patients with extra articular soft tissue pathology (muscle tear, ligament
tear and hematoma etc).
Patients with infective arthritis.
Post Polio knee arthritis.
Leg length discrepancy.
Patients with red flag including continuous fever indicative of active infection.
Patients with history of tuberculosis arthritis.
Patients with history of cancer in bones/joints.
Patients with history of sever lower limb vascular insufficiency
Hira,
Your inclusion criteria seems inclusive and should yield you a good sample population. It might be that you are 'restricting' yourself to a small geographical location.
Dean
hi, i will look over it again, i included 6-7 hospitals .... yes i guess you are right here ... i should expand it to more hospitals
Thanks a lot :)
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