In order to apply the M.A.A.R.I.E. framework to a randomized clinical trial we will examine the following article:

Corey L, Wald A, Patel R, et al. Once-Daily Valacyclovir to Reduce Risk of Transmission of Genital Herpes. N Engl J Med 2004;350:11-20.

If you do not have access to the journal, you can obtain the article at New England Journal of Medicine.

This article, like the others chosen for this site, is well-conducted research from a respected research journal that illustrates many important study design issues.

The exercise will ask you each of the 18 questions of the M.A.A.R.I.E. framework for Studying a Study. You'll have the opportunity to provide your own answer, compare your answer to the suggested answer, and get "help" if you don't know the answer.

So let's begin.