
Is everyone who applies for a clinical trial accepted?
Therefore, not everyone who applies for a clinical trial will be accepted. It is important to test drugs and medical products in the people they are meant to help. It is also important to conduct research in a variety of people, because different people may respond differently to treatments.
Where can I learn more about participating in a clinical trial?
Learn more about the basics of clinical trial participation, read first hand experiences from actual clinical trial volunteers, and see explanations from researchers at the NIH Clinical Research Trials and You Web site.
Should we inform participants of which treatment they were supplied with?
I believe it is our moral responsibility to inform participants which treatment they were supplied with during the study. In addition I agree with the first point made by Victoria that we should also inform them of the study outcomes.
Should we inform study participants about their group in the study?
I think there is no limitation to inform the study participants about their group in the study after the study is finished. Also, it is better to do that. It will increase their positive experience. The patients can then select to continue or discontinue their treatment with consultation with their physicians.

What is meant by blinding and double blinding?
In medical trials, the term blinding, or double-blind, usually refers to the practice of keeping patients in the dark as to whether they are receiving a placebo or not. It can also refer to allocation concealment, which is used to avoid selection bias.
Why is double blinding important?
The double-blind study keeps both doctors and participants in the dark as to who is receiving which treatment. This last part is important because it prevents the researchers from unintentionally tipping off the study participants, or unconsciously biasing their evaluation of the results.
What is double-blind method?
Listen to pronunciation. (DUH-bul-blind STUH-dee) A type of clinical trial in which neither the participants nor the researcher knows which treatment or intervention participants are receiving until the clinical trial is over. This makes results of the study less likely to be biased.
What is an example of a single-blind experiment?
Example: Yogurt Tasting The researchers know which yogurt containers are low-fat and which are high-fat, but participants are not told. This is an example of a single-blind study because the researchers know which participants are in the low- and high-fat groups but the participants do not know.
What is the purpose of having neither the patients nor the researchers know who is receiving which treatment?
A double-blind study is one in which neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is receiving a particular treatment. This procedure is utilized to prevent bias in research results. Double-blind studies are particularly useful for preventing bias due to demand characteristics or the placebo effect.
What is triple blind study?
In a single-blind study, only the participants are blinded. In a double-blind study, both participants and experimenters are blinded. In a triple-blind study, the assignment is hidden not only from participants and experimenters, but also from the researchers analyzing the data.
What is single blinded study?
Listen to pronunciation. (SING-gul-blind STUH-dee) A type of clinical trial in which only the researcher doing the study knows which treatment or intervention the participant is receiving until the trial is over.
Is an experiment in which participants do not know?
In double-blind experiments, the participants also do not know if they are in the experimental or the control group. The method of studying people while they are receiving psychological help from a psychologist.
Why is it unethical to give a participant a placebo?
It is generally agreed that placebo is unethical when its use is likely to result in irreversible harm, death, or other serious morbidity.
What is single blinded and double blinded study?
In a single-blind study, patients do not know which study group they are in (for example whether they are taking the experimental drug or a placebo). In a double-blind study, neither the patients nor the researchers/doctors know which study group the patients are in.
What is a blind observer?
To blind a person involved in research (whether a researcher, subject, funder, or other person) is to prevent them from knowing certain information about the process. The terms 'blind' (adj) or 'to blind' (vt) when used in this sense are figurative extensions of the literal idea of blindfolding someone.
Which researcher is conducting a single blind experiment?
obedience to authority figures was a series of social psychology experiments conducted by Yale University psychologist Stanley Milgram. Whether the results are likely due to the Independent variable (IV) or merely due to chance. -results that are statistically are considered valid and reliable.
Who sponsors clinical trials?
Clinical trials can be sponsored by organizations (such as a pharmaceutical company), Federal offices and agencies (such as the National Institutes of Health or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), or individuals (such as doctors or health care providers).
Who put strict rules on clinical studies?
Strict rules for clinical studies have been put in place by National Institutes of Health and the FDA. Some studies involve promising new treatments that may directly benefit participants. Others do not directly benefit participants, but may help scientists learn better ways to help people.
How does the FDA work?
FDA works to protect participants in clinical trials and to ensure that people have reliable information before deciding whether to join a clinical trial. The Federal government has regulations and guidelines for clinical research to protect participants from unreasonable risks.
What to do before joining a clinical trial?
Before joining a clinical trial, it is important to learn as much as possible. Discuss your questions and concerns with members of the health care team conducting the trial. Also, discuss the trial with your health care provider to determine whether or not the trial is a good option based on your current treatment.
What does the FDA do?
FDA seeks to ensure that people of different ages, races, ethnic groups, and genders are included in clinical trials. Learn more about FDA’s efforts to increase diversity in clinical trials.
Why is confidentiality important in clinical research?
Confidentiality is an important part of clinical research and ensures that personal information is seen only by those authorized to have access. It also means that the personal identity and all medical information of clinical trial participants is known only to the individual patient and researchers.
What are the criteria for clinical trials?
All clinical trials have guidelines, called eligibility criteria, about who can participate. The criteria are based on such factors as age, sex, type and stage of disease, previous treatment history, and other medical conditions.
Why is intent to treat study less promising than earlier?
When an intent to treat study is less promising than earlier, more closely observed studies, scientists will often ask why. This may be an attempt to salvage what had been considered to be a promising treatment.
What does a doctor look at in a study?
In other words, doctors look at patient results based on how they were supposed to be treated, rather than what actually happened. For example, if a person in a study is randomized to a medical treatment but ends up getting surgery—or no treatment at all—their outcomes are still considered as part of the medical treatment group.
Why use intent to treat model?
Intent to treat explicitly acknowledges the fact that how drugs work in the lab may have very little to do with how they work in the field. In fact, one of the reasons that promising drugs are often so disappointing ...
Why are there drawbacks to treating trials?
Drawbacks. Not all people like intent to treat trials. One reason is that they can underestimate a medication's potential effectiveness. For example, early trials of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV in gay men showed that the treatment seemed relatively effective... but only in individuals who took it regularly.
What is intent to treat?
When used in medical research studies, the phrase intent to treat refers to a type of study design. In this type of study, scientists analyze the results of their study based on what the patients were told to do. In other words, doctors look at patient results based on how they were supposed to be treated, rather than what actually happened.
Why are promising drugs so disappointing?
In fact, one of the reasons that promising drugs are often so disappointing when they're released is that people don't take them the way they do in the studies. (There are also often other differences between real-world patients and research patients.)
Can you judge a drug if you don't take it?
Some people say that a drug doesn't work if patients won't take it. Others say that you can't judge a medication if patients aren't taking it as prescribed. Both sides have a point. There is no perfect answer.
Who sponsors clinical trials?
Clinical trials can be sponsored by organizations (such as a pharmaceutical company), Federal offices and agencies (such as the National Institutes of Health or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), or individuals (such as doctors or health care providers).
Why do we do clinical trials?
Clinical trials are conducted for many reasons: 1 to determine whether a new drug or device is safe and effective for people to use. 2 to study different ways to use standard treatments or current, approved treatments so that they will be more effective, easier to use, or decrease certain side effects. 3 to learn how to safely use a treatment in a population for which the treatment was not previously tested, such as children.
How does the FDA work?
FDA works to protect participants in clinical trials and to ensure that people have reliable information before deciding whether to join a clinical trial. The Federal government has regulations and guidelines for clinical research to protect participants from unreasonable risks.
What is a protocol in clinical research?
Clinical trials are conducted according to a plan, called a protocol, which describes: what the researchers hope to learn from the study. Volunteers who participate in the study must agree to the rules and terms outlined in the protocol. Similarly, researchers, doctors, and other health professionals who manage the clinical trials must follow ...
What does the FDA do?
FDA seeks to ensure that people of different ages, races, ethnic groups, and genders are included in clinical trials. Learn more about FDA’s efforts to increase diversity in clinical trials.
What are the criteria for clinical trials?
All clinical trials have guidelines, called eligibility criteria, about who can participate. The criteria are based on such factors as age, sex, type and stage of disease, previous treatment history, and other medical conditions.
Why do people participate in clinical trials?
Some people participate in clinical trials because none of the standard (approved) treatment options have worked, or they are unable to tolerate certain side effects. Clinical trials provide another option when standard therapy has failed.
Why does the experimenter not know which group received the placebo or the experimental drug?
The fact that the experimenter does not know which group received the placebo or the experimental drug means that the risk of conscious and unconscious observer bias is reduced, making the study more accurate.
What are the two major models that one can use in clinical trials?
When undertaking a clinical trial, the two major models that one can use are the single blind and double blind trials. Selecting the right trial is important since it can affect the outcome of the trial or introduce errors.
What is the superior model of clinical research?
In a double-blind study, both the participants and the experimenters do not know which group got the placebo and which got the experimental treatment. This is considered to be the superior model of clinical research since it eliminates outcomes that are produced due to placebo effect, as well as observer bias by the experimenter.
How many groups of people are in a clinical trial?
For any clinical trial, there are usually two groups of people who are experimented on. Members of one group are given a placebo, and the members of another group are given the treatment that is being studied.
Why do blind people not know if they are taking placebos?
This is done to reduce the risk of errors, since some participants might produce spurious results if they know that they are taking the placebo or medication.
Why are people concerned about clinical trials?
Most people have some concerns about taking part in a clinical trial because they’re not really sure what it will mean for them. Get as much information as you need to make the choice that’s right for you.
Why are randomized clinical trials so distressing?
Some people find the concept of randomized clinical trials distressing, since neither the patient nor the doctor can choose which group the patient is in. This can be especially true if a trial is looking at totally different treatments and a person believes that one is better than the other.
What is the information needed for a clinical trial?
Information that’s needed for the clinical trial, such as test results, is put on special forms and into computer systems. This is only shared with the people who analyze the study results. Your data is given a number or code – your name isn’t on the forms or in the study system.
What are the risks of being in a clinical trial?
Some possible risks of being in a clinical trial can include: The new treatment may have unknown side effects or other risks which might be worse than those from standard treatments. The new treatment may not work for you even if it helps others.
What are the benefits of clinical trials?
But for the most part, clinical trials (other than phase 0) have some of the same potential benefits: You might help others who have the same disease by helping to advance cancer research. You could get a treatment that’s not available outside of the trial.
Why is the risk of cancer higher in clinical trials?
The risk may be higher in a clinical trial because there are more unknowns. This is especially true of phase I and II clinical trials, where the treatment has been studied in fewer people. Perhaps a bigger question is if the possible benefits outweigh the risks. People with cancer are often willing to accept a certain amount ...
Why do we need to test a new treatment against a placebo?
In rare cases, testing a new treatment against a placebo might be needed to prove that the treatment is better than nothing at all. The very least you should expect from any clinical trial is to be offered the treatment standard of care.
What is the first consideration for a drug?
The first consideration is the condition of your ethical approval. If the drug has a high clinical effect then I imagine those on placebo would be given the chance to take the drug after the trial.
What are clinical trial participants doing?
Clinical trial participants are doing a great service to the science, medical, and general communities by sacrificing their safety for the investigation of new treatments. I think we owe to them whatever we can ethically and practically give, and that includes disclosing their randomization assignment (if they wish) whenever it is possible to do so without harming the integrity of the study. After our studies are finished, we give the participants the option to learn what they received. I have found that participants greatly appreciate this gesture, it increases their positive experience of being a study participant, and they indicate being more likely to participate in future trials.
Does Bennett Tochukwu inform participants of drug status?
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Yes, at the end of every study we always inform each participants of his/her drug status as well as any change observed in their health status during the study. Cite.
Does the administrator inform the participants of the drug or placebo?
For strict evaluation, the administrator does not inform the participants which they are given, the real drug or placebo. The doctor in charge is also blinded to avoid Pygmalion effect. However, even after the trial is completed, is there a reason to forbid informing the participants which they are given?
Is it necessary to inform the participant in person about the results of a double blind study?
After the study has been completed the result will be published. So, it is not necessary to inform the participant in person about the result. Moreover in a double blind study you could not say who got the placebo and who got the study drug.
