Blinding in RCTs — NDEB AFK MCQ
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Correct answer: D — Concealing the treatment allocation from the participants, investigators, and/or outcome assessors to reduce bias
Blinding (masking) is the concealment of treatment allocation from participants (single-blind), investigators (double-blind), and/or outcome assessors (triple-blind) to reduce conscious and unconscious bias in treatment delivery, behaviour, and outcome assessment. In dental clinical trials, blinding is important because knowledge of the treatment received can influence patient-reported outcomes (pain, satisfaction) and examiner-assessed outcomes (caries detection, periodontal measurement). Not all studies can be blinded (e.g., comparing surgical vs. non-surgical treatment).
Reference: Sackett DL – Evidence-Based Medicine, 1996