Generalisation and extrapolation

摘要: All medical research is carried out on selected individuals, although the selection criteria are not always clear. The usefulness of lies primarily in generalisation findings rather than information gained about those particular individuals. We study patients a trial to find anything them but predict what might happen future given these treatments. A recent randomised showed no benefit fine needle aspiration over expectant management women with simple ovarian cysts.1 clinical question whether results can be deemed apply patient. For most conditions it widely accepted that finding like this validly predicts effect treatment other hospitals and countries. It would not, however, safe make predictions another condition, such as breast lump. In between extremes lie some cases where generalisability less clear. For example, when trials benefits β blockers after myocardial infarction studies had been …