Intention-to-Treat (ITT) Analysis is a principle used in clinical trials to analyze results based on the initial treatment assignment, regardless of whether participants adhered to the protocol, completed the treatment, or crossed over to a different group.

Key Aspects of ITT Analysis:

1. Preserves Randomization – ITT maintains the benefits of randomization by analyzing participants in the groups to which they were originally assigned.
2. Reflects Real-World Effectiveness – Since patients in real-world clinical settings may not always follow treatment plans, ITT provides a more realistic estimate of a treatment’s effectiveness.
3. Avoids Bias – Excluding non-adherent participants could introduce bias, as their exclusion may be related to treatment effectiveness or adverse effects.
4. Includes All Participants – Even if patients drop out, switch treatments, or are non-compliant, their data is included in the original assigned group.