[Factorial experiments in health research: An applied methodological approach].

Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

Factorial experiments constitute a methodological design that allows the simultaneous evaluation of two or more interventions and the analysis of both their main effects and their potential interaction on a health outcome. From this perspective, the aim of this article is to provide a practical overview of the use of factorial designs in health research. To facilitate understanding, a previously published study is used as an illustrative reference, showing how this type of design enables the assessment of the combined effect of different interventions applied in clinical settings. In this way, the usefulness of factorial experiments in medical practice and public health is highlighted, as they promote more efficient studies with clinically relevant results that are applicable to healthcare practice.