Cupples M, Heron N What to do after cardiac rehabilitation programs: the role of the general practitioner in cardiovascular prevention. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2016 Oct 14;86(1-2):755. doi: 10.4081/monaldi.2016.755.
Heron N, Kee F, Cardwell C, Tully MA, Donnelly M, Cupples ME Secondary prevention lifestyle interventions initiated within 90 days after TIA or 'minor' stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of rehabilitation programmes. Br J Gen Pract. 2017 Jan;67(654):e57-e66. doi: 10.3399/bjgp16X688369. Epub 2016 Dec 5.
Heron N, Kee F, Donnelly M, Cupples ME Systematic review of rehabilitation programmes initiated within 90 days of a transient ischaemic attack or 'minor' stroke: a protocol. BMJ Open. 2015 Jun 18;5(6):e007849. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-007849.
Heron N, Kee F, Donnelly M, Tully MA, Cupples ME Systematic review of the use of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) in home-based cardiac rehabilitation programmes for patients with cardiovascular disease--protocol. Syst Rev. 2015 Nov 17;4:164. doi: 10.1186/s13643-015-0149-5.
Heron, N; Kee, F; Mant, J; Cupples, ME; Donnelly, M Stroke Prevention Rehabilitation Intervention Trial of Exercise (SPRITE) - A Randomised Pilot Study. Accepted for publication in the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP).
Stroke Prevention Rehabilitation Intervention Trial of Exercise - SPRITE - A Feasibility and Pilot Study
Interventional studies are often prospective and are specifically tailored to evaluate direct impacts of treatment or preventive measures on disease.
Observational studies are often retrospective and are used to assess potential causation in exposure-outcome relationships and therefore influence preventive methods.
Expanded access is a means by which manufacturers make investigational new drugs available, under certain circumstances, to treat a patient(s) with a serious disease or condition who cannot participate in a controlled clinical trial.
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of steps, called phases - each phase is designed to answer a separate research question.
Phase 1: Researchers test a new drug or treatment in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects.
Phase 2: The drug or treatment is given to a larger group of people to see if it is effective and to further evaluate its safety.
Phase 3: The drug or treatment is given to large groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, monitor side effects, compare it to commonly used treatments, and collect information that will allow the drug or treatment to be used safely.
Phase 4: Studies are done after the drug or treatment has been marketed to gather information on the drug's effect in various populations and any side effects associated with long-term use.