crossover study

Last reviewed 03/2021

Crossover study

  • a type of controlled trial in which each subject acts as his own control, by receiving intervention "A" for one period of time and intervention "B" for another
  • design is only appropriate for evaluating palliative treatments of chronic stable conditions
  • bias can result based on the order in which interventions A and B are received and the time interval between receiving the interventions
    • therefore to reduce these effects:
      • there should be an adequate washout period between treatments;
      • the groups should be split into two so that one group receives intervention A first and the other group receives intervention B first

Reference:

  1. MeReC Briefing (2005);30 (supplement):1-7.