Design and analysis of a treatment study in urological clinical research

The clinical trial is the most appropriate type of design for the evaluation of interventions, and because of that, as far as it is possible, the treatments we apply to our patients should be founded on their results. However, a not much critical reading of the articles where they are presented can lead to inadequate conclusions, since the fact that the article is published does not guarantee its methodological quality neither its applicability. The kind of patients included, randomization methods, follow-up system, the type of analyses performed, as well as the magnitude, precision and clinical relevance of their results should always be taken into consideration. Besides these aspects, adverse events, and cost of interventions, should be considered, all of them having been integrated in an adequate manner to optimize the care of our patients.