Target Trial Emulation and Feasibility in Traditional Chinese Medicine Researches / 中医杂志

ABSTRACT

Target trial emulation， using observational data to emulate a target trial， applies the study design principles of randomized controlled trials to observational studies that aim to estimate the effect of an intervention. The advantage of target trial emulation is that observational data is used to emulate a target trial when it is not appropriate to conduct randomized controlled trials. Target trial emulation can control bias caused by the design of observational studies， and improve the effectiveness of causal inference from observational data. This paper introduced the methodological framework and key points in terms of eligibility criteria， treatment strategies， assignment procedures， grace period， outcomes， follow-up period， effect contrasts， and statistical plan for implementing target trial emulation. This article elucidated the feasibility and necessity of applying target trail emulation in the realm of traditional Chinese medicine researches， and highlighted the challenges encountered in its implementation， such as the need for specialized personnel， data collection and integration， and the control of confounding factors.