Introduction
to clinical trials
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Clinical trails evaluate the effectiveness and
safety of medications or medical devices by monitoring
their effects on large groups of people.
Participants:
All such trials are conducted on human volunteers
in natural environments to avoid any discrepancies.
The human volunteers who participate in the research
treatments play a vital role in the advancement
of medical technology.
Procedure for clinical trials:
When conducting a clinical trial the people
who participate, apart from the volunteers, include
doctors, nurses, clinical specialists and other
medical professionals. The process of a clinical
trial can be summarized in the following steps:
- Initially the health statistics of the volunteer
are documented in order to verify the changes
that occur during and after the trial.
- Next the participant is given instructions
for the trial and the precautionary measures
he/she is supposed to take.
- Constant monitoring of the volunteer and
the changes that occur throughout the duration
of the trail.
- Maintaining communication with the volunteer
after the trial is completed.
Different types of clinical trials:
- Treatment trials: Testing of treatments to
be conducted, which include a combination of
drugs or devices that can be used for treatment,
or a newer approach to the surgeries and therapies
for treatment of a particular ailment.
- Prevention trials: Research to find better
options for avoiding a medical problem among
people who never had the particular medical
problem before or to ensure that the problem
never returns if already cured once. This research
includes vitamins, medicines, minerals &
lifestyle changes.
- Diagnostic trials: Research to judge and
find tests or procedures that are more viable
for quick and safe treatment of a specific medical
problem.
- Screening trials: Research to determine more
efficient ways to detect ailments and diseases.
- Quality life trials: Research to find ways
to improve the lives of people suffering from
chronic diseases.
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