Clinical trials are assessments that are done with people to determine whether a particular surgical, medical or behavioural intervention is effective. This is the primary method by which researchers can determine if a particular treatment is helpful and safe for humans.
Clinical trials can also be used to assess whether a new treatment is more beneficial than an existing treatment or is less harmful than an existing treatment.
In addition, clinical trials may be used to assess the early detection of diseases, the prevention of certain conditions, and the ways in which the life of a patient can be made more manageable.
The Benefits of Participating in Clinical Trials
People participate in clinical trials for several reasons.
It may be that certain treatment that the patient has used before do not work and they are open to an alternative solution. Where traditional methods and pharmaceuticals do not provide the solution or no longer provide the solution, people may look to clinical trials to try new treatments in the hopes that it assists them with their ailments.
It may even be that there is no treatment available for their condition. Without any recourse to any known treatment, clinical trials make it possible for a person to search for a solution that might help.
Patients may also be able to learn about new treatments before they become available to the public. In this way, they will already be receiving the benefit of the new treatment before society has had the opportunity to do so.
In many cases, treatments will takes years of research and compliance with safety regulations before they are made available to the public. Clinical trial participation allows a participant to gain the advantage of the new treatment sometimes years before it is available to the general public. This can particularly be a blessing where there has been no other successful treatment on the market.
Occasionally, people involved in clinical trials will be healthy but participate to assist in finding disease prevention methods.
There could be several personal reasons why a healthy person would participate in such trials, which may also include wanting to be involved in new scientific discoveries or assisting researchers in finding solutions to various health problems.
Other reasons for clinical trial participation include that the person participating would like to take more control of their health and its trajectory.
Additional medical care and health check-ups are also often provided as part of a clinical trial, helping the patient keep more abreast of their health and wellness. The staff and researchers will be industry specialists, with the required knowledge and skill to take care of the patient during the trial. Clinical trials are also helpful in this way for patients who do not have medical aid plans.
The advantages of clinical trial participation also reach beyond what the person participating in the trial will gain, as the trial results will be used to assist other people with similar conditions.
Research and testing is the only way in which science can make the necessary discoveries to improve the lives of people in society. It is through the process of clinical trials that this is possible.
Irrespective of the outcome of the clinical trial, the clinical trial participation, and the discoveries will be of immense use to researchers in determining the suitability of the treatment for people. Even where the outcome is unsuccessful, the discovery can also steer the research to take another avenue in bettering the treatment for people.
Additional benefits also include that the patient participating in the clinical trial will have access to support groups and resources for a particular health condition.
If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, contact Clinresco Centres (Pty) Ltd today for an assessment.