Abstract
Randomized Controlled Trial Designs for Operations Research in Low-Income Countries: Reality or Delusion?
Highlights
Operational research studies have commonly used cross-sectional, case-control, or cohort designs, with Zachariah and colleagues [1] being of the view that operational research should not include randomized controlled trial (RCT) designs
Studies conducted in Uganda and elsewhere, have shown that RCTs pragmatically designed can be used to answer operations research questions
The experience in Uganda and other lowincome countries, shows that operational research can use RCT designs and be conducted within ongoing program conditions, provided it is considered ethically acceptable, the design of the intervention and tools is for the routine setting, and it is based on existing resources and data systems such as treatment registers
Summary
Operational research studies have commonly used cross-sectional, case-control, or cohort designs, with Zachariah and colleagues [1] being of the view that operational research should not include randomized controlled trial (RCT) designs. We concur with Horstick and colleagues [8] on the importance of including a broader spectrum of research designs such as randomized trials in this kind of research.
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