Clinical trials in asthma and chronic airflow obstruction.
Clinical trials are becoming increasingly important in objectively evaluating therapeutic interventions in pulmonary medicine. Although the overall methodology for clinical trials is similar for most diseases, there are specific questions and problems unique to pulmonary medicine. This review is limited to a discussion of the general design and commonly encountered "problems and pitfalls" for clinical trials in respiratory medicine. Three examples of designs for intervention in asthma and chronic obstructive airways disease are presented.
Meyers
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Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Bleecker
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D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012107:Research Design