Organizing and conducting clinical trials

Of the three stages of clinical trial, i.e. design, data collection, analysis, the second stage is the most neglected. The literature abounds with discussions on design and analysis, but there is a dearth of information on the organization and execution of the trial itself. Easily the most time-consuming aspect of a trial, data collection is frequently carried out by individuals who have not designed the study and who will not perform the analysis of results. With different individuals involved in each of the stages, intercommunication on substantive and procedural issues is essential for the successful culmination of the clinical project.