The Importance of Clinical Trials for Innovation
We are all aware of the challenges the world is facing today. COVID19, Ebola virus, and Bubonic plague have contributed to fear and uncertainty felt by the majority of the population worldwide. The continued confirmed positive cases of COVID19 and mortality rate in the international community prompted scientists and pharmaceuticals to search for a cure. When a pandemic hits a community or the world, treatment and support care are hard to obtain especially if there is no therapeutic treatment or vaccines available yet. There may be alternative drugs that can be used, but safety and effectiveness are not guaranteed. Thus, clinical trials are paramount for discovering treatments for diseases and ways to detect, diagnose, reduce the risk of developing the disease, and ways to stop the spread of the disease.
Clinical trials are essential for clinical innovations and patient care. Doing so allows researchers to determine what works and what does not work in humans. The process also aids doctors to weigh in the side effects of the new treatment, if it is acceptable compared to the potential benefits.
While clinical trials are essential, it is hard to find someone willing to participate. Due to the specific requirements and the risks involved, it takes months or years to recruit and enroll participants in the clinical trials.
While it is acceptable that volunteers are hesitant to participate in clinical trials, these drugs have been found to be safe due to the number of years this has been studied before the clinical trial is initiated.
Clinical Trials Protocol
A clinical trial is supervised by a Principal Investigator or doctor. The protocol outlines how the trial will work; what will be done during the clinical trial and why it needs to be done.
The protocol contains key information such as the number of participants, enrollment requirements, the tests that the participants will go through and how often will they get them, treatment plan, and the data to be collected during the clinical trial.
Each clinical study center must adhere to the protocols which will be viewed, supervised, and approved by a committee to ensure volunteers and participants protection.
How Clinical Trials Work
Clinical trials involving tests and treatments can be done in a doctor’s office, hospital, or clinic.
Volunteers or participants may have to go through a series of tests and medical examinations.
Although there are risks in participating in clinical trials, there are many benefits that volunteers can take advantage too. You can gain full access to new medical treatments before these are widely available. The fear and risk are there, but participants are closely monitored by a team of health care professionals.
Clinical trials are vital for medical innovations. Tests and clinical trials are conducted to find a highly effective treatment that could be deployed in the pandemic.
However, clinical trials will be a success without volunteers and participants. Hence, volunteers and participants must be informed of the risks and benefits of a successful clinical trial.
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