helpful information about clinical trials

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CLINICAL TRIALS

The following web-sites were listed in the June 17, 2004 issue of the Wall

Street Journal. They also give some guidelines for evaluating studies: Studies

published in peer-reviewed journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine,

the American Medical Association or Lancet have editorial boards that review

studies for publication. Specialty journals often contain the best studies on

specific diseases and conditions, such as " Circulation " for heart conditions.

Studies conducted by university teaching hospitals or funded by the National

Institutes of Health are often the most reliable.

Results of studies often seem contradictory, but that may be because they used

different eligibility criteria or different age, gender or ethnic groups.

Results of one study have to be duplicated by other researchers at different

locations before they are accepted as general medical practice.

Double-blinded randomized controlled trial studies are usually considered the

most valid. That means neither the investigator nor the trial participant know

who is receiving a drug and who is receiving a placebo.

In general, clinical trial results are considered statistically significant if

there is a less than 5% probability that the difference observed would occur by

chance alone.

Additionally, they advise that consumers consult with their doctor before

relying on any one medical study or clinical trial. Some suggested sites to read

about clinical trials are:

www.clinicaltrials.gov A service of the National Institutes of Health; largest

register of federally and privately supported clinical research on human

volunteers

www.cancer.gov National Cancer Institute's registry of cancer clinical trials

www.centerwatch.com Free listings of more than 41,000 active industry and

government sponsored clinical trials; sponsored by company that recruits

participants

www.trialscentral.org Trial listings Web site of the Center for Clinical Trials

and Evidence Based Healthcare at Brown University Medical Center

www.medlineplus.gov National Library of Medicine consumer site with link to

PubMed, its bibliographic database site with citations and abstracts from nearly

4,500 journals world wide

www.fda.gov/medwatch Offers safety information on drugs and other medical

products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

www.drugs.com Free advertiser-supported drug information site

www.amedco.com Free access to medical studies from hundreds of journals