Research studies will help determine if current treatments are safe and work by comparing them in an unbiased way.
Media
SCOTLAND'S LEADING MEDICS AND ACADEMICS UNITE TO PROMOTE IMPORTANCE OF RANDOMISED CLINICAL TRIALS
25th August 2008
A team of top Scots medics and academics have united to launch a public awareness campaign to highlight the importance of randomised clinical trials.
A UK first, the 'Get Randomised' campaign, which airs on TV from today (25th August) for four weeks, aims to communicate the importance of research trials in determining the most effective way to treat patients.
The driving force behind the campaign is Professor Tom MacDonald, Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at The University of Dundee, in collaboration with leading figures from the Universities of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Randomised clinical trials seek to determine the best possible way to treat certain illness or disease by comparing treatments. For conditions where there are existing treatments these may be compared or a new treatment may be compared with standard treatment.
For illnesses where there are no established treatments, a new treatment may be compared to a placebo (a dummy treatment). This is because, rather surprisingly, placebo treatment does appear to have measurable benefits and in many cases doctors want to know that the treatment being tested is better than placebo.
Professor Tom MacDonald explains: "Doctors decide how to treat patients based on evidence from clinical trials.
Random allocation of different treatments within the context of a research study is the best way to establish robust evidence as to how best to treat patients.
A randomised clinical trial ensures that, by the play of chance, participants are assigned equally to each treatment. This allows their efficacy and effectiveness to be properly compared, thus determining the best possible outcome for the patient.
It is our hope that through this campaign the importance of clinical trials becomes better understood by the public, increasing participation and ultimately, helping patients to help themselves and future generations to better treatment."
Margaret Toshney, 64, from Dundee, took part in a randomised clinical trial after discussing the best possible way to treat pain in her joints with her GP.
Margaret explains: "It became clear that there were many options for me but no conclusive answers as to which treatment would work best. It was at this point that my GP explained the basis of randomised clinical trials.
There was only possible benefit for me as there are so many treatments out there but no answers as to which one worked best.
It was on this basis that I was more than happy to be randomised as I knew the treatments were already being used and wanted to play my part in establishing the best way to treat my condition, both for my own sake and for future generations."
Stuart Ralston, ARC Professor of Rheumatology at University of Edinburgh added:
"Information from randomised trials is critical in allowing doctors to select the right treatment; and we hope the campaign will raise awareness of this."
Although several thousand clinical trials take place in the UK every year a common experience of researchers is that it is difficult to recruit patients. Public knowledge on taking part in clinical trials is low. Often the patients most informed about clinical trials relevant to their condition are younger people with cancer, yet the range of conditions for which there is a lack of good information on the best treatment is wide and includes many common conditions that are less serious.
The team of top Scots medics and academics featured in the ad, include: (Professor Tom Macdonald, Prof of Clinical Pharmacology & Consultant Physician), (Prof Jill Belch, Head of Institute of Cardiovascular Research), (Marion Campbell, Director of Health Services Research Unit), (Dr Dan Rutherford GP, St Andrews), (Dr John Dewar, Consultant Clinical Oncologist), (Alastair Thompson, Director of Dundee Clinical Research Centre), (Marianne Nicolson, Consultant Medical Oncologist), (Simon Maxwell, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacology) and (Dr Alex Watson GP).
The campaign has the backing of the four medical school faculties, Chief Scientist in Scotland (a physician: Sir John Savill) and the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland (a surgeon Professor Harry Burns).
For further information, visit: www.getrandomised.org
Notes to Editors:
The following people from each region have agreed to be interviewed if required by the press: (Edinburgh: Stuart Ralston, ARC Professor of Rheumatology), (Glasgow: Ian Ford, Director of Glasgow Clinical Trials Unit), (Dundee: Prof Tom MacDonald, Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and consultant Physician), (Aberdeen: Marion Campbell, Director of Health Services Research Unit).
Many more doctors had agreed to participate but could not be included in such short advertisements. A full list is available from our video clip section.
Issued by Beattie Communications.
For more information about the 'Get Randomised' campaign, contact:
Laurna O'Donnell :- 0771 8660 117
Geraldine Strawbridge :- 01698 787857 / 07967308581