Research and clinical trials are critical aspects of healthcare. They are the main method to determine whether a new treatment is safe and effective, and they advance our knowledge on particular diseases. While they do carry risk, they have increased survival and improved the quality of life of many patients around the world. They cover all areas of health such as prevention, screening and diagnosis as well as testing new treatments.
While research can consist of testing and trials, it can also involve analysing previous studies and drawing conclusions from the evidence. This type of research is important to first identify a problem, to determine the current standard of care and to understand how that may differ between areas. Research of this nature can identify gaps in our knowledge and inspire new lines of inquiry.
Once a drug, treatment or health product is developed it must undergo a process of testing. Laboratory and animal testing are sometimes used first to ensure that the treatment is showing favourable results before it reaches the clinical trial stage. Clinical trials involve people. They are essential to ensure the safety and quality of a treatment in humans, and aim for outcomes that are superior to, or cause fewer side effects, than current treatment methods.
Clinical trials are devised by medical professionals, researchers and increasingly with patients to address issues that are important to them. An ethics committee reviews the trial to reduce the risk of harm.
Stages of a clinical trial
There are four stages of a clinical trial; they usually begin with small groups of patients or volunteers before they expand to larger populations [1]. It is important that diverse groups of participants are included in a clinical trial, for example people of varying age, sex/gender and ethnicity to better understand whether the treatment reacts differently; works more/less efficiently; or produces more/less side effects, among other important factors.
The decision to join a clinical trial may be done in partnership with the patient’s doctor, who is often best placed to advise the patient whether the clinical trial is right for them and whether they fit the criteria for the trial. As trials involve both risks and benefits, it is important for each individual to weigh these up.
Why join a clinical trial
Research and clinical trials may result in a number of benefits for current patients and future patients. A clinical trial patient may receive a treatment which results in improved benefits for them, before it is widely available. In some situations a trial can be a patient’s only option to receive treatment if there is none approved, such as in the case of PCOS. Those who participate in clinical trials play a crucial role in medical research and discovery and benefit future generations of those diagnosed with the same disease.
SPIOMET4HEALTH is conducting a clinical trial to test a new treatment for PCOS in different European countries. Find more information about the trial and how to join it here: The clinical trial – SPIOMET4HEALTH
Article by Aoibhinn Collery – Research and Communications Officer (EIWH)
References
- What Are Clinical Trials and Studies? 2020 14 December 2022]; Available from: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-clinical-trials-and-studies.