Drug Testing Flashcards
What is meant by the term of “Placebo”
A tablet that doesn’t have any of the active ingredients in it but looks the same.
Usually made of sugar
What is an Open-label trial?
The comparison of similar treatments and the patients are aware of what they’re taking
What is a “blind test”
Where the patient doesn’t know which treatment they are receiving
What is a double blind test?
Neither the patient or the researcher know which treatment the patient is being given.
Why are patients RANDOMLY selected into groups who take the placebo/ real drug?
To avoid bias, e.g. the more ill patients given the real drug
Why is a double blind trial used?
To remove any bias
Why is it good that patients don’t know if they’ve taken a placebo?
As some patients may feel like they feel better, as they know they have taken a drug (placebo effect)
What is an ethical issue to drug trialling?
As giving a placebo to somebody with a disease means they aren’t receiving any treatment whereas they could be benefitting from the new drug
