Henderson JA, Chubak J, O'Connell J, Ramos MC, Jensen J, Jobe JB; LOWPK Project Team Design of a randomized controlled trial of a web-based intervention to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors among remote reservation-dwelling American Indian adults with type 2 diabetes. J Prim Prev. 2012 Aug;33(4):209-22. doi: 10.1007/s10935-012-0276-x.
Ralston JD, Revere D, Robins LS, Goldberg HI Patients' experience with a diabetes support programme based on an interactive electronic medical record: qualitative study. BMJ. 2004 May 15;328(7449):1159.
Web-based, Patient-centered Approach to CVD Risk-factor Management and Reduction
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.
