Medical research studies involving people are called clinical trials. There are two main types of trials or studies: interventional and observational. Interventional trials aim to learn more about a particular intervention or treatment. Treatment research usually involves an intervention, such as medication, psychotherapy, new devices, or new approaches to surgery or radiation therapy.
Preventive research seeks better ways to prevent the onset or recurrence of disorders. Different types of preventive research can study medications, vitamins, minerals, lifestyle changes, and more. Diagnostic research refers to the practice of looking for better ways to identify a particular disorder or condition. Screening research aims to find the best ways to detect certain disorders or health conditions. Quality of life research explores ways to improve the comfort and quality of life for people with a chronic illness.
Genetic studies aim to improve the prediction of disorders by identifying and understanding how genes and diseases may be related. Research in this area can explore the ways in which a person's genes make them more or less likely to develop a disorder. This can lead to the development of personalized treatments based on the patient's genetic makeup. Study design is vital to the quality, execution, and interpretation of clinical studies. Different research questions require different methods of answering them.
Interventional and observational studies are the two main umbrellas for these different methods. The medical community recognizes several types of clinical trials. All of them involve people and follow a specific plan, known as a protocol, to evaluate the effect of medical or behavioral treatment on health outcomes. Clinical trials are usually conducted in hospital settings, including Baptist Health centers. Researchers conduct different types of clinical trials because they each have different research questions.
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a medical, surgical, or behavioral intervention in people. If researchers consider the intervention to be safe and effective after the first three phases, the FDA approves its clinical use and continues to monitor its effects. The Food and Drug Administration can approve the start of any clinical trial, but researchers must demonstrate that their research protocols are up to standard.
Examples of Other Types of Clinical Research
Many people believe that all clinical research involves testing new drugs or devices.Involving older adults in clinical trials and studies helps researchers get the information they need to develop the right treatments for this age group. After a clinical trial or study is finished, researchers analyze the data to determine what the findings mean and to plan the next steps. Researchers need older adults to participate in clinical research so that scientists can learn more about how new drugs, tests, and other interventions will work for them. Clinical trials are an important part of medical research that help scientists understand how treatments work in humans.
There are two main types of clinical trials: interventional and observational. Other types include preventive, diagnostic, quality-of-life, genetic, and screening studies. Each type has its own purpose and protocol for evaluating medical or behavioral treatments on health outcomes. Involving older adults in clinical trials is essential for developing treatments tailored specifically for them.
