Testing for baseline differences in randomized controlled trials: an unhealthy research behavior that is hard to eradicate

de Boer, Michiel R; Waterlander, Wilma E; Kuijper, Lothar DJ; Steenhuis, Ingrid HM; Twisk, Jos WR

doi:10.1186/s12966-015-0162-z

Testing for baseline differences in randomized controlled trials: an unhealthy research behavior that is hard to eradicate

BackgroundAccording to the CONSORT statement, significance testing of baseline differences in randomized controlled trials should not be performed. In fact, this practice has been discouraged by numerous authors throughout the last forty years. During that time span, reporting of baseline differe…