Randomized Trials, Meta-Analyses, and Systematic Reviews: Using Examples from Rheumatology.

This article introduces contemporary ideas and standards for clinical research in rheumatology for randomized trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. Examples of different randomized trials in rheumatic diseases are provided to understand the methods for trials and the rationale for outcomes within trials. Insights from meta-analyses and systematic literature reviews, including network meta-analyses within rheumatology treatment, are provided. Ethical considerations, sample size calculations, and types of randomized controlled trials are discussed.