Understanding Research
There are many forms of research, with one of the most common in the medical field being clinical trials. A clinical trial is a research study done to find better ways to prevent, diagnose or treat a disease or condition.
Without clinical trials, new drugs and treatments could not be approved. No matter how promising a new treatment looks when tested in petri dishes, test tubes or with lab animals, it cannot be used to treat people until it has been carefully evaluated through the several phases of a clinical trial.
Clinical trials test assumptions held by clinicians and researchers to see if they are, in fact, true. And a clinical trial that disproves the effectiveness of a treatment, while disappointing, is just as important as a trial that proves the effectiveness of a new treatment.
» Evidence Based Guidelines
» Levels of Evidence
» Quality of Evidence
» Grades of Recommendations
» Research Terminology