Depending on what the experts want to find out, they use different types of clinical studies. Here are some different kinds of clinical studies and what they look like.
Treatment research usually involves some kind of action, like a drug, counselling, a new device, or a new way to do surgery or radiation treatment.
Prevention research tries to find better ways to stop diseases from starting or coming back. Different types of research on preventing problems can look at drugs, vitamins, vaccines, minerals, or changes in how people live.
Diagnostic research is the process of looking for better ways to figure out what’s wrong with someone.
Screening research tries to find the best ways to find diseases or health problems.
Quality of Life Research looks into ways to make people with long-term illnesses feel better and improve their quality of life.
The goal of genetic studies is to make it easier to predict diseases by figuring out how genes and diseases might be linked. In this area of study, scientists may look into how a person’s genes make them more or less likely to get a problem. This could lead to tailor-made treatments for each patient based on their genes.
Epidemiological studies try to figure out how diseases spread in groups of people, what causes them, and how to stop them.
An important thing to know is that some clinical study is “outpatient,” which means that the people who take part do not stay in the hospital overnight. Some of the study is “inpatient,” which means that people will have to stay at the hospital or research centre for at least one night. Ask the experts what they need from you for their project.
Phases of Clinical Trials: When Clinical Study is Used to Test Medicines and Medical Products
Clinical studies are a type of clinical study that is used to try and assess new therapies or medicines. Most clinical studies are done in four steps. Each phase’s tests have a different goal and help experts find answers to different questions.
Phase I Clinical Trial
A small group of people is used to test a new drug or treatment for the first time. The doctors look at how safe the treatment is, figure out what doses are safe, and list any side effects.
Phase II Clinical Trial
The drug or medicine being tested is given to a larger group of people to see if it works and to find out more about how safe it is.
Phase III Clinical Trial
Large groups of people are given the trial study drug or treatment. Researchers check to see if it works, keep an eye on side effects, compare it to other treatments that are widely used, and gather information that will let the new drug or treatment be used safely.
Phase IV Clinical Trial
Post-marketing studies are done after the FDA gives approval for a treatment to be used. They give more information about the risks, benefits, and best way to use the treatment or drug.
Different Types of Clinical Studies
Many people think that trying new medicines or gadgets is part of all clinical study. But this is not true. Some studies do not test drugs, so a person may not need to change the ones they are already taking. Researchers also need people who don’t have the sickness being studied so they can compare their results to those of people who do have the disease. Some examples of other kinds of research are:
- A long-term study that uses brain scans or psychology tests
- A genetic study that uses blood tests but doesn’t change the way people take their medicine.
- A study of family history that includes talking to family members to find out about people’s medical needs and background.
