Sample size in clinical trials – challenges and approaches

Abstract

Sample size estimation is a necessary and crucial step in clinical trial research. Statistical requirements, limited patient availability and high financial risk of a clinical trial necessitate the proper calculation of this measure. The aim of this paper is to discuss the reasons why the estimation of the sample size is important and, based on the obtained results, to show how this process may be completed in selected cases. Stochastic simulations based on the Monte Carlo methods approach are applied. Therefore, new challenges facing this area of research are mentioned.