VIDEO: Clinical Trials: The Benefits and Risks | Mark Scholz, MD | PCRI
Clinical trials are commonly considered to be the "last resort" for patients who have run out of conventional treatments; however, clinical trials are available for all stages of prostate cancer and may sometimes offer patients early access to treatments or protocols that could provide them value. However, there are a lot of factors for patients and doctors to consider to determine if a clinical trial is appropriate -- for example, would it compromise the patient's care if they were assigned to the control group? Are there proven treatments that would be more appropriate than what is being investigated? And so forth. Clinical trials are the gold standard for assessing whether theory translates to practice, finding optimal dosages, and evaluating the safety and efficacy of a drug, but patients and their doctors may want to be careful that the patient's level of care is not compromised by the pursuit of general knowledge.
0:34 What is a clinical trial? Which kinds of patients should be aware
3:06 Can you explain the three phases of clinical trials? Phase I, II, and III?.
4:53 How do patients find good clinical trials?
5:31 Which factors should patients consider when evaluating a clinical trial?
6:15 At which disease states should men consider clinical trials?
6:56 Is a clinical trial necessary for treatments with obvious benefits?
8:46 How can a patient know that a clinical trial is not sacrificing their individual level of care when joining a clinical trial?
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