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Particularly in malignant disease, health professionals and scientists try constantly to improve therapy outcomes. Such an improvement can be measured by a greater healing rate, but also by the lowering of adverse effects or achieving a better quality of life. Clinical trials test the efficacy of new drugs or therapeutic interventions but also new dosage regimen and combinations of already known medicines or new variations of regimens, for example chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy.

The benefit of a new therapy in comparison to the old one can only be judged through careful observation and documentation, and the precise analysis of all collected information. The accurate observation of patients and the documentation of effect size and side effects are also necessary to discover early any adverse effect of a new therapy. To ensure the accurate observation of the effect and side effects of a new therapy, patients participating in a clinical trial initially receive any new drug or intervention in a controlled fashion.

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