It is necessary to involve more patients, but also clinicians and other operators, in the development of comparative research on the efficacy of drugs. A step forward in this direction will prove very useful when deciding on a therapy. This was underlined by the researchers of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute USA, in an article-appeal published in 'Jama'. Researchers point to the weakness of research in this area. The institute itself was created to fund and promote comparative efficacy studies, "crucial for providing key information to doctors, patients and decision makers", explain the authors.
The center has taken action, putting in place ad hoc protocols and tenders. The idea is that "greater involvement of patients, physicians and other scientists in the research process of this type could help reorient clinical research itself, reducing uncertainty and accelerating the speed in the adoption of meaningful and promising results".
April 18, 2012 – Margherita Lopes – PharmaKronos
