Medical studies test out new medicines, types of surgery, or medical devices in groups of people.
Medical studies test out new medicines, types of surgery, or medical devices in groups of people. These studies help researchers learn whether new treatments are safe and if they work. If you've ever taken medicine or had surgery, you can be sure that your treatment was tested in a medical study before it reached you.
Medical studies come in two main types:
Clinical trialscompare a medicine, device, or other new treatment against something else, such as:
- The current medicine used to treat the same disease
- A "fake" treatment that doesn't contain any active ingredients, called a placebo
- No treatment
Researchers divide study participants into two groups. One group gets the new treatment and the other one gets the standard treatment for their condition, or no treatment. Then researchers compare the results.
Some medical studies look at new methods to prevent or diagnose diseases. Others explore ways to improve quality of life in people with certain conditions.
