Clinical trials options are fast becoming common place in the armamentarium for treating medical conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and many other illnesses. According to the FDA, clinical trials are voluntary research studies, conducted in people, which are designed to answer specific questions about the safety and/or effectiveness of drugs, vaccines, other therapies, or new ways of using existing treatments. In the Broward Health system, we are proud to be able to offer this service to our patients, especially as part of our cancer services. The Broward Health North Broward Medical Center cancer service has the distinction of being an American College of Surgeon (ACoS) accredited cancer program and is also an affiliate of the H. Lee Moffitt Clinical Research Network.
Research involving human beings have come a long way from the days when research scientists were viewed as mysterious and unethical largely because of past misconduct in the field. Today every new drug and every new medical devise rely heavily on volunteers to participate in the final phases of testing before the new product is approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and released for general medical use.
One of the biggest challenges facing the development of new drugs is the lack of clinical research participants in the general population but particularly among subpopulation groups such as the elderly, children, racially and ethnically diverse communities, and medically underserved populations. People participating in clinical trials must give their informed consent.
Things to consider and discuss with the doctor include the purpose of the study, risks and benefits, and what to expect regarding treatment and care. Though no one can totally predict the results of a study, thousands of people are helped every year because they decided to take part in a clinical trial, not to mention the millions who benefit from others’ participation in clinical trials.
The goal among healthcare professions in clinical research is to identify barriers to research participation and to continually raise consumer awareness of treatment options and health conditions and motivate consumers to have productive discussions with their physicians about these important health issues.
To this end, national agencies including the FDA, Department of Human Health Services and the National Cancer Institute have developed numerous educational tools such as brochures, CDs, and DVDs in an effort to utilize the most effective ways to present and disseminate information to these target populations. The various websites are also a one stop shop for individuals who desire information about national clinical trials.
Clinical trials options are fast becoming common place in the armamentarium for treating medical conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and many other illnesses. According to the FDA, clinical trials are voluntary research studies, conducted in people, which are designed to answer specific questions about the safety and/or effectiveness of drugs, vaccines, other therapies, or new ways of using existing treatments. In the Broward Health system, we are proud to be able to offer this service to our patients, especially as part of our cancer services. The Broward Health North Broward Medical Center cancer service has the distinction of being an American College of Surgeon (ACoS) accredited cancer program and is also an affiliate of the H. Lee Moffitt Clinical Research Network.
