Interventions in different disciplines: a comparison of clinical drug trials and economic experiments

Abstract

A neglected area in studying experimental interventions is to compare different disciplines with each other. This editorial performs an interdisciplinary analysis as it contrasts interventions in clinical drug trials with interventions in economic experiments. There are not only methodological similarities (method of difference and randomization) but also differences (blinding). The large number of similar challenges and problems in implementation and analysis (e.g., self-selection, the volunteer subject, and external validity) offers the potential for cross-fertilization of the two disciplines whether their language barriers can be overcome.

Keywords:

• blinding
• clinical drug trials
• economic experiments
• efficacy paradox
• method of difference
• randomization
• randomized controlled trials

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank anonymous reviewers for their comments, ideas and criticism. In addition, I am very grateful for the financial support provided by ScienceCampus Halle (WCH).

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Notes

^†The side effect profile differs between placebos and the active drug due to ethical reasons, which would arise by providing a substance without benefit. Moreover, inflicting side effects on control patients may also undermine assessing the safety profile of a drug.