Sham procedure
A procedure made to feel like the real one, without the active step.
What it means
A sham is the procedure equivalent of a placebo. The participant goes through the motions of the procedure, but the part expected to have an effect is not performed.
Why it matters if you take part
Shams are used where the treatment is a device or a procedure rather than a medicine. As with a placebo, the consent process explains what the sham involves before you agree.
Related terms
Trials recruiting now that include a sham comparison
83 recruiting trials in our Canadian corpus include a sham comparison.
Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of ONL1204 in Patients With GA Associated With AMD
Geographic Atrophy (GA) · PHASE2
Home-based Heat Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 · NA
Laser Therapy for At-Home Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers - Canada
Diabetic Foot Ulcer · NA
Soluble Fibre Supplementation in NAFLD
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease · PHASE2
Passive Heat Therapy for People With COPD
COPD · NA
Impact of Resistance Training Intensity on Blood Pressure
Blood Pressure Management · NA
This explains how clinical research works. It is not medical advice and does not describe any specific condition or treatment. Only a trial site can determine whether someone can take part in a study.