Development of a Web interface for randomized controlled trials

Randomized clinical trials are considered the gold standard to evaluate the efficacy of a new dental treatment; they are also the most credited source of scientific evidence for any medical therapy. Performing a RCT, however, requires a complex organization often expensive and time-consuming. Web-based research protocols make clinical trials easier by allowing a more uniform data collection. Aim of this work is to describe a Web interface supporting a clinical trial wich aimed to evaluate the efficacy of functional treatment of skeletal Class II malocclusions. A Web site was developed by a research group of the Orthodontic Dept. at "Federico II" University of Napoli. The domain was registered at http://www.ortodonzia.unina.it. Web interface was a valid support for clinical research making, easier and faster sample selection, patient recruitment and data management. The whole research management proved to be better.