Research and scholarly methods: Pragmatic clinical trials

Pragmatic clinical trials (PCTs) have received increased attention within health services and pharmacy practice research due to their ability to test interventions in the real world, with emphasis on implementation and scalability in diverse practice environments. The purpose of this article is to introduce the PCT research design to health service and pharmacy practice researchers, followed by considerations and recommendations for conducting successful PCT research. It is organized into three parts, including a definition of PCTs, the process of selecting a PCT design, and general considerations and recommendations of PCTs. We conclude with the applications and trends in the use of PCTs in pharmacy research.