Are cancer patients better off if they participate in clinical trials? A mixed methods study
There is an overemphasis on the value of clinical trials, especially by the media, which seek to sensationalise preliminary reports of therapy that subsequently is shown to be no improvement on current practice. Less than 5% of all phase I clinical trials result in any change to treatment.
It is also incorrect that participation in clinical trials results in better outcomes for patients with cancer and those patients who do enter clinical trials have better care. This study looked at the attitudes of treating physicians and nurses regarding the value of clinical trials and also at outcomes for participants.
The results were that most treating medical staff are convinced that clinical trials provide better care than standard therapy and that together with the psychological benefits of greater patient involvement in their disease, improved outcomes.
A review of available reports over the last ten years, which reported outcomes on members of trials versus non-members, showed no benefit in terms of improved outcomes. The psychological benefit is called “Trial Effect”, the review showed no evidence of any advantage
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