In a single blind trial, who is unaware of the treatment being given?

In a single blind trial, it is specifically the patients who are unaware of the treatment they are receiving. The primary purpose of this design is to prevent any bias in the participants’ responses that might arise from their knowledge of the treatment. By keeping patients in the dark about whether they are receiving an active treatment or a placebo, researchers aim to ensure that the outcomes measured reflect the treatment's true effects rather than influences from patient expectations or psychological responses.

Researchers, on the other hand, are aware of the treatment assignments because they are responsible for administering the treatment and monitoring the trial's progress. This design allows them to manage the trial effectively while still aiming to minimize bias in the patients’ responses. Understanding this helps to clarify the intentions behind using a single-blind trial and its implications for study outcomes.