What was the design of the SUNBURST study?

The SUNBURST study was designed as a crossover study, which means that participants in the study receive different interventions in a sequential manner, with each participant serving as their own control. This design allows researchers to compare the effects of different treatments on the same individual, thereby reducing variability caused by differences between participants.

In the context of clinical trials, crossover designs are particularly powerful because they tend to require fewer participants to achieve the same level of statistical power as other designs. It also allows for direct comparisons of treatments under similar conditions for each participant. This can lead to more reliable data regarding the efficacy of each treatment option.

While the other options refer to other types of study designs, they do not accurately characterize the structure of the SUNBURST study, which is why they are not the correct choice. The focus on a crossover design emphasizes the ability to gauge treatment effectiveness more precisely through the direct comparison of results across different interventions within the same subjects.