Placebos - the hidden factor
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Placebos - the hidden factor
Admin on Fri May 30, 2008 12:11 pm
Its now time to know about placebos. These are indeed an important part of a clinical trial especially when its a comparitive study ( Not always! ). I am describing this section again with reference to Oncology or cancer trials.
It should be said that very few cancer clinical trials involve a placebo. A placebo is an
inactive ingredient or pill used in some types of clinical trials to help make sure results are unbiased. A placebo is sometimes called a “sugar pill.” Over the years, doctors have observed that some people begin to feel better even if they just think they’re being
treated. With the possibility of getting a placebo, people can’t tell whether they are receiving the treatment being studied or not, which makes the results more likely to be valid. Placebos are rarely used alone in cancer research, unless no known effective treatments exist. It’s certainly not ethical to have someone take a placebo if an effective standard treatment is already available. When cancer clinical trials compare treatments, they compare the new treatment against the current standard treatment. At times, a
study may be designed so that patients may not be told which one they are receiving, but they know they are at least getting the current standard of care. In some clinical trials, the doctors want to learn whether adding a new drug to the standard therapy improves its effectiveness. In these studies, some patients receive the standard drug(s) and a new one, while other patients receive the standard drug(s) and a placebo. But none of the patients would receive a placebo only. Everyone receives standard treatment if there is a standard treatment available.
Now lets take a birds eye view of the next post ” Participating in a clinical Trial “.
All clinical trials are voluntary. You always have the right to choose whether or not you will take part in a clinical trial. The level of care you receive should not be affected by your decision. And you have the right to leave a clinical trial at any time, for any reason. If you decide to leave, your health care team may ask that you continue to be monitored for a period of time to look for any long-term effects of treatment. The most important question which should be asked before taking a decision is
It should be said that very few cancer clinical trials involve a placebo. A placebo is an
inactive ingredient or pill used in some types of clinical trials to help make sure results are unbiased. A placebo is sometimes called a “sugar pill.” Over the years, doctors have observed that some people begin to feel better even if they just think they’re being
treated. With the possibility of getting a placebo, people can’t tell whether they are receiving the treatment being studied or not, which makes the results more likely to be valid. Placebos are rarely used alone in cancer research, unless no known effective treatments exist. It’s certainly not ethical to have someone take a placebo if an effective standard treatment is already available. When cancer clinical trials compare treatments, they compare the new treatment against the current standard treatment. At times, a
study may be designed so that patients may not be told which one they are receiving, but they know they are at least getting the current standard of care. In some clinical trials, the doctors want to learn whether adding a new drug to the standard therapy improves its effectiveness. In these studies, some patients receive the standard drug(s) and a new one, while other patients receive the standard drug(s) and a placebo. But none of the patients would receive a placebo only. Everyone receives standard treatment if there is a standard treatment available.
Now lets take a birds eye view of the next post ” Participating in a clinical Trial “.
All clinical trials are voluntary. You always have the right to choose whether or not you will take part in a clinical trial. The level of care you receive should not be affected by your decision. And you have the right to leave a clinical trial at any time, for any reason. If you decide to leave, your health care team may ask that you continue to be monitored for a period of time to look for any long-term effects of treatment. The most important question which should be asked before taking a decision is
“What Would Participating Involve for Me?”
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