Single-Blind — What It Means in Clinical Trials
Plain English Definition
In a single-blind trial, you do not know which treatment you are receiving, but the research team does. This setup is used when it is impractical to keep the doctors blinded — for example, when the treatments look very different or require different procedures.
Why It Matters
Understanding that you are blinded but your doctor is not can affect how you interpret your care during the trial. Your doctor still follows strict protocols to keep the study fair.
Example
You might see: "Single-blind study — participants will not know their treatment assignment." This means your doctor knows your group but will not reveal it to you.
Need help understanding eligibility criteria?
How to Read Eligibility Criteria →