In a randomized controlled trial (RCT) testing a new antihypertensive drug, both patients and treating physicians are kept blinded to group allocation. Which bias is most directly minimized by this approach?

Correct option is C

Blinding prevents differences in care, attention, or co-interventions between groups. This minimizes performance bias, which arises if providers or participants alter behavior because they know allocation.
Explanation of options: (a) ✘ Selection bias is reduced by randomization, not blinding. (b) ✘ Detection bias is reduced by blinded outcome assessment, but here the focus is on treatment delivery. (c) ✔ Correct; blinding minimizes performance bias → ensures equal treatment apart from the intervention. (d) ✘ Recall bias occurs in retrospective self-reported studies, not in RCTs.