Operational and resource management of an RCT: some of the pitfalls and lessons learned

Nurses frequently fulfil important functions within a research team involved in clinical trials. This paper describes the challenges inherent in developing and managing a large clinical trial involving the evaluation of homoeopathy and asthma. Teamwork, a clear and comprehensive understanding of the research protocol, marketing the project, and the ability to manage human resources within both a primary and secondary care environment are all essential aspects of clinical research. Our experience in establishing and managing this project has suggested to us that a high standard of clinical research demands an open approach to problem-solving as well as the realization that efficient research is as much about the management of people as it is about scientific rigour.