title: The impact of the Trial Coordinator in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT). The DCCT Research Group.
abstract: The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) is a multicenter, randomized clinical trial studying the effects of two different diabetes regimens on the development and progression of early vascular complications in persons with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). All of the centers have a Trial Coordinator. We administered a self-report questionnaire to each center to document the different activities for which the Trial Coordinator assumed responsibility in successfully orchestrating the trial. All Trial Coordinators were responsible primarily for recruitment, screening, medical management, education and training, and adherence and administration. Although documentation indicated that the Trial Coordinator was responsible for all of the above activities, the original applications reflected that very few of the Principal Investigators anticipated such a wide variety of duties. A Trial Coordinator was named in only 13 of the 21 applications and of these, only 6 actually assumed the position. This study points out the need to develop a means to define characteristics, background, and training appropriate for candidates for a Trial Coordinator position in future studies.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahern
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grove
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strand
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wesche
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Seibert
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Brenneman
authors.forename: W V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Tamborlane
mesh_terms: D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012106:Research; D012380:Role
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin