HealthAugust 2, 2026
prespecification
pree-SPES-ih-fih-KAY-shun
Definition
The act of defining, declaring, or establishing parameters, criteria, or procedures in advance of an event or analysis to prevent bias.
Etymology
The word is formed by combining the Latin prefix 'pre-' (before) with 'specification', derived from the Medieval Latin 'specificatio', meaning to make a distinct kind or sort.
In the news
The article emphasizes that deescalation trials require careful prespecification of noninferiority margins before statistical analysis begins to ensure that trial results are robust and scientifically valid.
The Clinical Trial That Asks Whether Your Current Treatment Should Exist
Read the full article ↗The Clinical Trial Vanguard