Table 2

Research difficulties with the rapid response system

Difficulties with researching the rapid response system

Dismisses real-life relevance and common sense

Dependence of randomised trial methodology on numerical strength, which requires patient randomisation

Hawthorne effect improves outcomes in control patients

Unethical to randomly assign patients to 'placebo'

Cluster randomisation of hospitals requires large numbers of centres

Before-and-after studies lack rigour and generalisability

Tee et al. Critical Care 2008 12:205   doi:10.1186/cc6199