Clinically Proven
Definition
'Clinically proven' is a marketing phrase suggesting that an intervention has been tested and shown to work in human clinical studies.
Correct Scientific Usage
In medicine, clinical effectiveness is established through well-designed clinical trials that measure meaningful health outcomes, are adequately powered, and are replicated across populations. Regulatory approval typically relies on multiple phase II and phase III trials, not a single result.
Common Misunderstandings
The phrase is often used without specifying what was proven, in whom, or under what conditions. A single small or short-term study may be described as 'clinical proof,' even when results are preliminary and have yet to be independently verified.
Why It Matters
Clinical evidence varies widely in strength. Without details about study design and outcomes, 'clinically proven' provides little information about real-world effectiveness.
References
- Clinical Research, FDA
- Defining a Clinically Meaningful Effect for the Design and Interpretation of Randomized Controlled Trials, Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience