singlecenter

Singlecenter, in a research context, refers to a study conducted at a single institution or center rather than across multiple sites. The term is commonly used in clinical, biomedical, and health services research to distinguish studies based at one location from multicenter investigations that enroll participants from several sites.

Single-center studies can be retrospective or prospective and may include pilots, pilot feasibility studies, diagnostic accuracy assessments, treatment evaluations, and chart reviews. They often arise when access to a specific patient population is limited, when tight protocol adherence is required, or when logistical or financial constraints make multicenter collaboration impractical. The center’s patient mix, clinical practices, and data collection systems typically shape the study’s design and outcomes.

Advantages of single-center studies include simpler governance, faster initiation, lower logistical complexity, and often higher data completeness due to centralized record-keeping. They can be cost-effective and allow detailed control over procedures and measurements. Limitations include reduced generalizability, as findings may reflect center-specific patient characteristics, referral patterns, and care practices. Smaller sample sizes can limit statistical power, and there is a greater risk of center-specific biases affecting results.

Design and reporting considerations emphasize standardization and transparency. Prespecified protocols, uniform data collection instruments, centralized data management, and clear inclusion criteria help reduce bias. Ethical oversight by a local institutional review board or ethics committee and appropriate informed consent are essential. When reporting, authors should describe center characteristics (location, type of institution, catchment population) and discuss the extent to which findings may generalize to other settings. Findings from single-center studies are often seen as preliminary and may motivate replication in multicenter trials.