The Pretend Trial: A Mixed Methods Study Evaluating Preferences, Feasibility, And Costs Of Performing Sham Surgery Trials Involving Major Surgical Procedures

Abstract

Randomising patients to receive either an 'active' or a 'sham' (pretend) surgery and comparing the outcomes is the best way to test how effective a surgical procedure is. However, few orthopaedic surgeries have been tested in this way. This study aims to determine the feasibility of conducting a sham surgery trial in a major orthopaedic procedure by 1. identifying the conditions under which patients and surgeons would consider participating 2. Estimating how much it would cost.

Related publications (1)

Sham Surgery – Justified but practical? A systematic review of sham surgery trials in orthopaedics’

S Bunzli, Michelle Dowsey, Peter Choong

2018-01-01

Background: An increasing trend for sham surgery trials in minor orthopaedic procedures has been observed. Trial outcomes have cha..