What is the definition of "blinding" in clinical trials?

Blinding in clinical trials refers to the practice of keeping participants unaware of which treatment they are receiving, which is crucial for minimizing bias. This process helps to ensure that the effects observed in a study can be attributed to the treatment itself rather than to participants’ perceptions or expectations about the treatment they are receiving. When participants do not know whether they are part of the treatment group or the control group, their responses, reporting, and behaviors are less likely to be influenced by preconceived notions or psychological effects related to their assigned intervention.

This methodology can also be applied to researchers or analysts in what is known as double blinding, where those conducting the trial also do not know which participants are receiving which treatment. By effectively eliminating bias from both participants and researchers, blinding enhances the credibility of the trial results and contributes to the overall integrity of the research.