What is a randomised controlled trial?

Method Fifty-seven parents randomised to I0 weeks ofex~erimental Habilitation programmes for intellectual disability are primitive in developing countries (Heron & Myers, 1983). Resources to develop specialist care are scarce in these nations. One compensatory option for this deficit is to facilitate the primary care-giver to take on the role of therapist (McLoughlin, 1992), because parents are the focus of intervention (Myreddi, 1992). Parental attitude influences the development and training of the developmentally disabled child (Beckett-Edwards, 1994) and is a dynamic adaptational process subject to change (Gallimore et al, 1993). Changes in and control therapy were assessed using parental attitude occur with intervention the Parental Attitude Scale towards the (Bruiner & Beck, 1984; Sameroff & Managementof Intellectual DisabilityThe 1990). Interventions with parents are varpreand post-intervention measurements ied (Girimaii, 19931, including a model were done by a single-blinded rater and with an O ~ ~ O r m n i t y raise questions and discuss problems over a period of time (Stecompared. phens & Wyatt, 1969; Cunningham et al, Results The intervention group had a 1993). This randomised-controlled ma1 evalustatistically significant increase in the ates the efficacy of Interactive Group outcome scores and clinical improvement psychoeducation (IGP) in changing attiin the total parental attitude score, tudes towards children with intellectual orientation towards child-rearing, disability.